Sunday, December 25, 2011

Tomtenisse



The Swedish folklore Santa was known as a Tomtenisse. He was usually dressed in a grey suit and more importantly, he was dead! You would see him around farms, normally the farm where he lived when he was alive. Now after death he would come back to see if everything was all right with the animals at his old place. The Tomtenisse was a very tiny man. People would feed him by putting out a plate of rice pudding at the vestibule. It is said he was related to the wights. I don't know if that is true but I remember my grandmother telling us the story when she met a wight. God Jul everyone.

9 comments:

Luis Gomez said...

Thanks for this Steffe. Love to hear these folk stories. Have a great day!

Judy said...

Thank you for sharing the story. He has a happy face! Merry Christmas!

RedPat said...

He's a spooky Santa! Merry Jul Steffe!!

Jack said...

It is a very different tradition from ours. But, it is always fun to hear other people's folk tales. All the best in the holiday season.

Rowen said...

The soul is everything. God Jul, Steffe.

Lowell said...

I had not heard the story of this wee person before...don't know why. But I'm sure he's real.

Birdman said...

Is this a Mrs. Claus? He/she looks to cute. hahahaha!

CaT said...

interesting...
werent you afraid of him then?

Stefan Jansson said...

A bit, but I found him on the counter at my barber's place, and the barber, Mikael, spends a lot of time at the gym so i figured he could handle it if anything happened...