Title: Nisse/Tomte

General Information about Item:

• Customary Folklore: Legend

• Norwegian

• Norway

Informant Data:

• Steffen is a Dartmouth 19. His parents are from Norway.

Contextual Data:

• Social Context: Almost everyone who celebrates Christmas has a Christmas story that they believe in. These are typically told to children around the holiday times in order to create a festive mood and make everyone excited for Christmas. As the kids grow up, they begin to lose their belief in these legends because they start to realize that there parents were the source of the gifts.       However these legends remain a large source of the classic Christmas symbols and festive decorations for all ages even though the legends are no longer believed to be true.

• Cultural Context: The “Father Christmas” figure varies greatly between different cultures – changing primarily due to religious and geographical differences. In the United States it is typically Santa, though people from other cultures who have parents from other cultures may also believe in a different legend.

Item:

• Steffen believes in multiple Christmas legends. He has the classic Santa Claus legend, but he also shared an additional legend that is specific to Norway and northern Europe. The Nisse are small gnomes that are mischievous and are responsible for the welfare of the farmstead. The Nisse bring the presents for the children and leave them under the tree.

Collector’s Comments:

• This is very different from the classic Santa Claus. The multiple gnomes are a stark contrast to the one larger than life figure. These are probably more relatable to children, as they are small and mischievous.

Collector’s Name: Alec Vaules

Tags/Keywords:

• Christmas, Nisse/Tomte, Norway, Tradition, Legend