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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World Rainforest Day
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Modica, Sicily, Italy
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Sports where you least expect it
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Mona Vale rockpool, Sydney, Australia
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Holi celebration in Jaipur, India
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Where two continents meet
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Banff National Park, Alberta
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An island made from a vow
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Humpback whale, Disko Bay, Greenland
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International Tiger Day
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Castellfollit de la Roca, Catalonia, Spain
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Aerial view of Venice, Italy
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Thanksgiving Day
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Madame Sherri Forest, New Hampshire, United States
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Where did you drop the fish, son?
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Eurasian red squirrel in Northumberland, England
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Tour de France 2024
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VanDusen Botanical Garden, Vancouver
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Scotts Bluff National Monument, Gering, Nebraska, United States
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The 50th Toronto International Film Festival
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Whooper swans, Kotoku Pond, Japan
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A grizzly bear sanctuary
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European river otter
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For Mother’s Day, we salute these marsupial moms
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Look, but don’t touch
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Alam-Pedja Nature Reserve, Estonia
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A young jaguar on a riverbank, Pantanal, Brazil
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Dragon tails trail to the sea
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Big Bend National Park, Texas, USA
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A duckling swimming in a water meadow, Suffolk, England
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

