Gnomes
Throughout Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, you’ll find countless traditions and unique stories that tell tales of mythical creatures and sprites, ranging from fairies to trolls. One of the better-known creatures from Scandinavian lore is the gnome. The Scandinavian gnome isn’t necessarily a force of good or evil (though they’re not usually malicious).
These creatures have found their way into countless tales over the years and continue to hold a significant place in the hearts of the locals to this day. There are even Scandinavian Christmas gnomes that play a part in determining whether you get a handful of presents each year or not.
In Scandinavia, the gnome usually has the name of “Tomte” in Swedish, or “Nisser” in Norway. In Finland, the name for the gnome is Tonttu.
Scandinavian gnomes are similar in style to the ones you’ve probably seen in Western folklore. Small and bearded, these creatures are mischievous domestic spirits. Scandinavians believe that they’re responsible for the welfare and protection of a farmstead and its buildings.
According to some Scandinavian people, gnomes originally come from the soul of the first person to own the farm.
The souls of a homestead eventually become a spirit creature to ensure the continuous care of the space. Scandinavian gnomes have a deep love of tradition, and they hate the idea of change.
They’re also similar to ancestral figures in Nordic lore, as they demand a lot of respect.
Tales of Scandinavian gnomes emerged from a time when farms were extremely isolated, and inhabitants throughout Scandinavia had to live through dark, long winters. The Scandinavian gnomes sprang from the imaginations of people who wanted to feel less alone during these cold months.
In Sweden, the word “Tomte” actually means homestead man.
Gnomes can sometimes stand for good fortune, respect, and care in Scandinavian homes. Stories about these creatures often talk about how much they appreciate people looking after their properties and farms and being good to the animals that live there. Gnomes are also frequently associated with mischievous behaviour and pranks.
In some more frightening tales about gnomes, people would say that these creatures could kill off livestock and destroy a family’s fortune if they were upset or irked.
PS- "GOD JUL" is the old Norse way of saying "Good Yule" -I recently designed a Xmas card with these words on them and got a ration of crap from a highly religious, close minded, English only speaker who thought I was doing something profane with the word "GOD" : /
I find it funny also that so many people here would balk at the honoring of fairies but think nothing of purchasing a little Christmas or Garden Gnome for their home. They are totally unaware to the fact that it literally represents a part of the Scandinavian Fae realm.
