They"ve got long beards, red hats and a knack for stealing a tad bit of Santa"s thunder every Christmas. Meet the gnome—known as "tomte" in Sweden and "nisse" in Norway—whose traditions vary across regions. Rooted in Scandinavian folklore, these tiny guardians watch over homes and farms, keeping families safe through long, dark winters. But there"s a catch: treat them kindly, or they may play tricks. A warm bowl of porridge on Christmas Eve is their favourite reward. Said to bring luck and laughter, they might even befriend your garden gnomes, since they often resemble them.
Handmade gnomes at a Christmas market
Today in History
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Leshan Giant Buddha, Sichuan, China
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Giant panda, Chengdu, China
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Yellow warbler
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St. Barbaras Cathedral, Kutná Hora, Czechia
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Bamburgh Castle, Northumberland, England
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Third Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge connecting Laos and Thailand
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Petroglyphs near Fruita in Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, United States
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Unbe-leaf-able
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Angry bird, doting dad
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A young jaguar on a riverbank, Pantanal, Brazil
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Bungle beehives
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Aýna, Albacete, Spain
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What returned to this city 500 years ago?
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Vancouver Island, British Columbia
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Jacksons Point Lighthouse on Lake Simcoe, Ontario
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Kochia, Hitachi, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan
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A glimpse of Yoho National Park
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Elephant Rock, Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia
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Cape Breton Highlands National Park in Nova Scotia
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Butchart Gardens in Brentwood Bay, British Columbia
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International Day for Biosphere Reserves
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Red deer stag in De Hoge Veluwe National Park, Netherlands
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

