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
More Desktop Wallpapers:
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Porthcawl lighthouse, Wales, United Kingdom
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The glass dome of Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Milan, Italy
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Where we go to play
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Death Valley National Park, California
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Maasai giraffes in Amboseli National Park, Kenya
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Zion National Park, Utah, United States
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Thunderstorm above the plains, Bulgaria
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Whooper swans, Kotoku Pond, Japan
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What waterborne wizardry is this?
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Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
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Red fox
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Happy Mothers Day!
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Sakura Days Japan Fair
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International Museum Day
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Happy Lunar New Year!
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Avalanche Lake Trail at Adirondack High Peaks, New York, United States
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Locals know this place simply as ‘the Met’
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World Bee Day
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For Mother’s Day, we salute these marsupial moms
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American bison
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9,000-year-old handprints
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Dunquin Pier, County Kerry, Ireland
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Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute, Venice, Italy
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It’s time for the Calgary Stampede!
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Happy Valentines Day!
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Ouimet Canyon in the Ouimet Canyon Provincial Park
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Bodie State Historic Park, California, United States
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A kiss and a sigh
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This lesson is going swimmingly
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The sprout with amazing potential
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

