Tomtes are small men that live on homesteads and tend to be older than kids, whilst being size of a child. They have long lives where they enjoy helping out around their own property or taking care other people’s items when needed. Nisse comes from the name Nils which is the Scandinavian version of Nicholas. In Norway, the Nisse is a household spirit and their job is to take care of the house and land to protect it from evil.
Are Gnomes and Tomte the Same?
Gnomes and Tomte are used to describe the same thing. Depending on where you go in Scandinavia, they will have different names to describe gnomes and stories which describe where they originate from.
What is Nisse in Sweden?
In Scandinavia, Pixies or Nisse is a household spirit that watches over the well-being of your farm. They are usually described as short men and women (under four feet tall) wearing red caps to distinguish them from other elves who may live in trees outside homes.
What Creature is a Nisse?
The Nisse is a creature from Scandinavian folklore that has made its way into many books. They originate from Nordic folklore which is associated with winter and, in particular, the Christmas season. Valentines gnomes are increasing being given as gifts on Valentine’s Day too.
Are Tomte just for Christmas?
Scandinavian folklore is full of captivating creatures that protect the protagonist’s home and children from mischief at night. One such creature, Tomte (or “Tom”) protects farmers in Scandinavian lore while also being known to ward off bad luck for those who have met him too late!
What is a Tomte gnome?
The Tomte is famous in the world of Scandinavian folklore and shares a lot of the features of the traditional gnome which is why they sometimes get confused for each other. They are typically found on people’s homes and farms and are thought to keep these and the adults and children of the place safe.
A Tomten has a red hat, long white beard and their body shape is similar to a gnome and these things are why they are often mistaken for gnomes.
They have been featured in some literature over the years such as Viktor Rydberg‘s pre-1900s poem called ‘Tomten’ which is often read at Christmas time.
Nisse and Tomte FAQ
The Tomte originates from Sweden.
The Nisse originate from Norway.
