Tomte

With long fluffy beards and big noses poking out from under pointed felt caps, you may have seen a variety of these funny and charming gnomes, usually available for Christmas décor. In Scandinavian folklore, these creatures known as Tomte, are solitary and mischievous spirits, who protect homeowners and their families from accidents and disasters. Tomte is derived from the word 'tomt' in Swedish, meaning the grounds of a homestead, since they generally live under the floorboards of a house or barn.

If respected, a Tomte will work hard for you. It is believed that a clean and well-kept home is an indication of a resident gnome. If offended however, they may play tricks, like hiding or breaking things. A Tomte doesn’t require much from a homeowner though, just a bowl of porridge with a big pat of butter on Christmas eve. So, if small things keep going awry around the holidays, just put out a bowl of oatmeal and make your Tomte happy!