8 Secrets About the Swedish Tomten (that you probably never knew…)
In recent years, our Scandinavian Tomte, Nisse, or Gårdstomte as he’s sometimes also called, has become something of a global phenomenon.
His face has become synonymous with that of Santa’s and his long beard and flopsy red hat symbols of Christmas. Whether he likes it or not, he’s, in fact, world-famous.
But just like all celebrities, there’s more to him than what meets the limelight - and I have it on good authority that he’s actually more of a grumpy recluse than a gift-giving poster boy, and he would prefer to just get on with his job on the farm.
But is tomten really still around these days?
Yes! They’re very much around if you just open your mind to believe in the magic of folklore. And it just so happens that I have met a Swedish farmer who agreed to share rare insights into what the Secret Life of a Modern Swedish Tomte might be like, and in this rare article, I will share with you eight secret facts you probably didn’t know about the Swedish Tomten along with screengrabs of his communication with a modern-day farmer.
Tomten is Tiny (Most of the Time)
A long time ago, before industrialisation, people in Sweden and Scandinavia used to believe that a tomte lived on each farm. Some people were convinced there were tomtens on ships and mills, too. People who’ve reported seeing a tomte, tell of chance encounters with a very shy, tiny individual that’s hard to spot. Some report him being as little as only four, of five apples tall, and others say he has the magic to grow into the size of a giant with impossible strength when he needs to.
2. Tomten is a Workaholic
Tomten loves helping the farmer look after the farm, and will often work throughout the night to get the job done. He will help the farmer bring the crops in, muck out the stables and feed the animals and so much more.
But the farmer will do well to remember that tomten’s loyalty is always to the farmstead itself, over and above the farmer and their family. That’s probably because tomten is in fact thought to be the very first farmer who built the farm, and who’s stayed on in the shape of a tomte to make sure it’s run properly.
If the tomte thinks that the current farmer hasn’t done his or her job properly, he gets grumpy and can be quite inventive with his punishments.
Many slacking farmers have woken up to find their animals disappearing overnight!
3. Tomten Hates Modernisation
Tomten is a true traditionalist. He has seen generation after generation work on the farm, and he is a firm believer that the old ways are the always the best.
Many farmers have found their attempts at modernisation go to waste when the tomte won’t accept new equipment or ideas.
4. Tomten Loves Horses
Although tomten loves and looks after all the animals on the farm, his very favourite is always going to be the horses. He can often be found sitting on their backs, braiding their manes and tails into tidy plaits.
5. Tomten is Territorial
Tomten doesn’t like it when people live too close to their farm. In his opinion, neighbours might mean broken peace, shared spaces and what’s worse - more tomtens!
Many farmers throughout history have told tales of their tomtens fighting like hissing angry cats when the neighbours got too close.
Perhaps the neighbouring cows walked into the wrong paddock, or the neighbouring tomtens happened to run into them when out working.
The bad news for the farmer is when their tomte looses the fight. According to the old tomte ways, they have forfeit a cow or other prized possession to the winning gnome.
6. Tomten Doesn’t Like To Be Seen
The tomten is a bit of a loner and prefers to spend his time alone with the farm and the animals. Most farmers who’re lucky enough to have a tomte, haven’t actually ever seen him, only the results of his labour.
7. You Should Never Give Tomten New Clothes
Traditionally the tomten wears grey robes and a wooly, red hat. In the past some farmers have thought they’d surprise their tomte with some new clothes as a thank you for their hard work on the farm.
Big mistake!
After receiving their new clothes tomtens are said to become very vain and refuse to do any more work.
Some might even leave the farm altogether, so whatever you do - never give your tomte any new clothes.
8. Tomten is Not Tomten
The traditional tomte aka farm gnome (gårdstomten) has been around for hundreds, if not thousands of years whereas the modern day Santa (confusingly also known as tomten in Swedish) is more of a recent ‘invention’.
The two are not related, and they have very different jobs. Gårdstomten (the farm gnome) is working on the farm, whereas Jultomten (Santa) delivers Christmas presents to kids around the world. In recent history the two tomtens have become muddled up in peoples minds, and the farm gnome is probably not impressed when people confuse him with the other tomte.
Who is YOUR Tomten?
If you grew up in Sweden, or have family connections there, then you probably grew up with your family’s stories about their Tomte, and what he might have been like. Perhaps you called him Nisse, or gårdstomten or hustomten and maybe he lived in the farm with the animals, or inside the house.
There are as many Tomtens as there are people who believe in them in Scandinavia and that’s why I created this fun gift range where you can easily personalise the text to turn these gifts into YOUR definition of who Tomten really is. Yay :-) So go on, share your love for the Swedish language and folklore with this fun Tomte range!
The Tomten Definition range is illustrated by Camstinio, and the products are designed by me. My print and distribution partner Zazzle deliver worldwide: Choose your location to get your preferred currency: Sweden, USA or UK.
