Christmas Elves....

 

🎄 Christmas Elves ⛄

We all know of Santa and his workshop of elves, but we're did this story come from what are the  origins of the jolly fat man's helpers?

 The modern elf folklore come  from Norse/Scandinavian mythology, the Nisse or house gnome and the  álfar, also called  huldufólk or  hildafolk 'hidden folk'.

Sweden's gift giver before Santa was the Tomten and the Yule Goat though by 1891, the Good old St Nick had merged with Tomten, who was originally an elf or gnome like farm guardian  (like the Nisse).  following the work of Jenny Nyström, this new combination of  old and new Christmas figures became  the Jultomten.

In Nordic countries, Nisse are the closest thing you could consider as Christmas Elves even though  nisse are not actually  elves and they will usually  only wear red instead of the green and red outfits that elves are known for in most western  countries.

 Several  Norse legend were likely combined with other Scandinavian and Celtic legends and myths about these small magic beings.

All kinds of stories about elves, fairies  nature spirits and even gnomes can be found from  multiple regions through Europe there are also similar supernatural beings that could be connected to elves, such as kobolds or duende  from Germany Mexico and South America or the Scottish house spirits called brownies. In Medieval Europe, elves were seen as tricksters and were often linked to demons especially after the christianization of Europe most things of a supernatural or otherworldly nature where considered evil.

The modern  Christmas elf + working in Santa's workshop) appeared in literature as early as 1850 when Louisa May Alcott (Little Women ) completed, but never published a book called Christmas Elves. 

Though a earlier reference to Christmas elf's can be found  In the 1823 poem A Visit from St. Nicholas (   'Twas the Night Before Christmas), by  Clement Clarke Moore, Santa Claus himself is described in line 45: "He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf".

The image of the elves in the workshop was also popularized by Godey's Lady's Book, with a front cover illustration for its 1873 Christmas issue showing Santa surrounded by toys and elves with the caption "Here we have an idea of the preparations that are made to supply the young folks with toys at Christmas time".

 During this time, Godey's was a very influential figure to the birth of some of our Christmas traditions, having shown the first widely circulated picture of a modern Christmas tree on the front cover of its 1850 Christmas issue. Additional recognition was also given in Austin Thompson's 1876 work "The House of Santa Claus, a Christmas Fairy Show (Christmas play) for Sunday Schools"

A few other versions of elf's or helpers are

Ded Moroz (father Frost / Grandfather Frost )  and his grand daughter Snegurochka (Frost Maiden) from Russia ⛄🎁

Knecht Ruprecht from Germany.🍻🎅

The  Hoesecker in  Luxembourg.🦌

Zwarte Piet (Black Peter) In the Netherlands and Belgium who accompany Saint Nicholas on his global gift giving.🎄

And lastly the modern Christmas tradition involving that ever watchful snitch The Elf on the Shelf  .🧝‍♂️👀

Hopefully none of you are on the naughty list, this year 🙂

Have a great Christmas and happy New Year.

🎄🎁🎅⛄🦌🎄

🦇M🦇

Last Post for the year, thanks for stopping by and have an awesome 2025🎆🎇

Christmas Myths: Norwigian Nisse

 Nisse are believed to be spirits but some see them as a type of house elf or gnome's...

 In ancient times the Nisse  was believed to be an ancestors or spirit and are often believed to be spirite of  the farmer who originally cleared the forest to build the farm. in other words a  spirit that never leaves the farm or homestead they built in their day.


 The name Nisse may be derived from the Old Norse word “niðsi”, meaning (dear little relative)

In pre-Christian times, the original farmer / land owner was  often buried on his farm in a mound.

He was sometimes referred to as the haugkall or haugebonde, from the Old Norse haugr meaning mound.  Mounds are common places in Scandinavian folklore as the resting places for ancestral spirits .
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Other legend's describe them as a member of the Hilda Folk / hidden folk a type a fairy or gnome like creature, humanoid in appearance and small in stature usually no more then 3 feet in height....
Modern day  nisse are often associated with Christmas and the yule time.

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Nisse are believed to live in the houses and barns of the farm and secretly act as their protector.

If treated well, they will protect the family and animals from bad luck and misfortune and may even help out with the farm work and animal care.

However, they are very strong for there size and known to be short tempered, especially when they fill offended, once insulted they will usually play tricks, steal items, and may even maim or kill.  


 
Traditionally, Blots are held every solstice and a gift (never payment) is left for the nisse, for protecting the home and family.

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  A blót is a type of offering / sacrifice it could be dedicated to any of the Norse gods, the spirits of the land, or to ancestors. The sacrifice involved aspects of a sacramental meals or feast.
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And you must ALWAYS remember to put out a bowl of porridge with butter and honey  for him on Christmas Eve (Winter Solstice or Jul) to show your appreciation for his watchfulness!



 This  tradition is   similar to the way cookies and milk are put out for Santa Claus.

Just like Santa's cookies  the porridge would be gone in the morning  the nisse also brings  presents sometimes .

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                                                        .....Christmas Card from 1885....

The nisse is also known as a tomte in some area's it's seen as a small gnome like creature most commonly found on or near farms and is often associated with Christmas.

Norwegian Julenissen, Sweden  has the Jultomten, the Finish Joulutonttu and the Danish Julemanden

The nisse is also sometimes accompanied by the Yule Goat  (Julbocken).

The pair appear on Christmas Eve knocking on the doors of people's homes and handing out presents.


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19th century Swedish Christmas card by Jenny Nystrom

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In the 1840s the farm nisse became one of  the main image's of Christmas in Denmark, and was then called julenisse (Yule Nisse).

In 1881, the Swedish magazine Ny Illustrerad Tidning published Viktor Rydberg  poem "Tomten", where the tomte is alone awake in the cold Christmas night, pondering the mysteries of life and death. This poem featured the first painting by Jenny Nystrom which was later made into a Christmas Card (Picture Above)  which she depicted as a white-bearded, red-capped friendly figure and he has been associated with Christmas ever since.

Not long after this other regions started adopting this nisse as a Christmas figure along with  the emerging Father Christmas /Santa traditions ..

 the new Danish tradition, a variant of the nisse/tomte, called the jultomte in Sweden and julenisse in Norway, started bringing the Christmas presents in Sweden and Norway, instead of the traditional julbock  (Yule Goat).

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  Other appearances ...

An angry nisse is featured in the popular children's book by Swedish author Selma Lagerlof called Nils Holgerssons suderbara resa genom syerige (Nils Holgersson's Wonderful Journey Through Sweden). The angry nisse turns the naughty child Nils into a nisse in the beginning of the book, and Nils then travels across Sweden on the back of a goose.

 In The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher, hobs / nisse/ house elf's ...are eyeless creatures who burn in light. They serve the Queen Mab of The Winter Court of the Sidhe.


In Njord Kane's : The Hidden Hollow the  nisse are part of nature’s hidden folk who are both helpful and manipulative.

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Have a great Christmas! and Don't forget to leave out a bowl of porridge :)

:D God Jul :D

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May not be a post next week, if i don't the week following will have two posts.... hope you all have a great weekend :)
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Merry Christmas ! 

 
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