What is the difference between Nisse and Tomte?
Tomte literally means “homestead man” and is derived from the word tomt which means homestead or building lot. Nisse is derived from the name Nils which is the Scandinavian form of Nicholas. A tomte is described as an older, little man about the size of a young child.
What is the difference between a Nisse and a gnome?
Like Swedish gnomes, Norwegian gnomes are playful figures who can either be pranksters, or close friends. A common part of Norwegian folklore and legend, the Nisse have a long white beard with a conical or knit cap, often in red or another bright color. They look a lot like your standard garden gnome.
What is nisser Norway?
Nisser is a lake in Nissedal, Norway. It is the 13th-largest lake in the nation by area with a surface area of 76.30 km2 (29.46 sq mi), the 10th largest by volume at 7.19 km³, and the 13th deepest at 234 m (768 ft).
What is the difference between a tomten and a gnome?
Gnome in Swedish is called Tomte, with other words a Tomte is a Swedish gnome. They live in and around the houses and sheds on farms and remote houses according to the gnome folklore. If you are wise you will show them “due respect”.
Does nisser mean elves?
Today a nisse (Norwegian) means a “homestead man,” who is a mischievous elf, that oversees the domestic household and the health of farm animals.
Is Tomte an elf?
The name of the Swedish Santa Claus is Jultomte, who was not always the Santa Claus of the Swedes. He is a mythical creature, born of legends. According to old Scandinavian legends, Christmas Eve is surrounded by magic and superstition.
What does a gnome look like?
Gnomes generally were not described thoroughly in the stories, but garden gnomes produced throughout the world have the same general look, usually with a long, white beard, a red hat and simple clothes. The female gnomes tend to have long hair, the same hat and a simple dress, and look somewhat like witches.
Is a GONK a gnome?
Gonks stem from Nordic and Scandinavian mythology. They are meant to be something like a mix of a gnome and a hobgoblin. In the original folklore, these curious little creatures were said to take a liking to barns or houses in the colder seasons.
What language is the word nisser from?
Etymology. The term nisse may be derived from Old Norse niðsi, meaning “dear little relative”. Another explanation is that it is a corruption of Nils, the Scandinavian form of Nicholas.
What does Sweden call Christmas?
In Swedish Happy/Merry Christmas is ‘God Jul’. In North-Sami, spoken in northern parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia, it’s ‘Buorit Juovllat’. Happy/Merry Christmas in lots more languages.
Do Danish believe in elves?
In Denmark, there is an entire sub-culture of elves called “Jule Nisser” (meaning Christmas elves or gnomes). They live in the forests, eat berries and fruit, and come into your home during the Christmas season to play tricks on the family.
Are gnomes Danish?
So, the origins of the Danish nisse. The gnome figure really comes from Scandinavian mythology in general, and Sweden, Norway, and Finland each have their own version of him.