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 favorite 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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Don’t look down
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Teacher Appreciation Day
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Entoloma hochstetteri mushroom at Lake Mahinapua, New Zealand
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On a Healing Field for Veterans Day
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Saint Andrews Day
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In the belly of Fat Bear Week
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International Womens Day
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Dashing through the snow
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I m here! Take a look at me!
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Happy Father s Day
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Chittorgarh Fort, Rajasthan, India
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Crescent-tail bigeye fish, Great Barrier Reef, Australia
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Kinder Scout, Peak District National Park, England
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Celebrating the UN’s International Day of Families
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Night of the ‘Cold Moon’
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Chestnut-headed bee-eaters, Bardia National Park, Nepal
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International Sloth Day
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Go Fly a Kite Day
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To Sua Ocean Trench
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Get the bear facts
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Village of Oia in Santorini, Greece
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Saksun, Faroe Islands, Denmark
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Killer whales in Spildra, Norway
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Languid life on the Lakes
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Cherry blossoms at Tom McCall Waterfront Park, Portland, Oregon
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Wild and beautiful Alaska
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International Roller Coaster Day
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Land ho in New Zealand 250 years ago
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Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch on the institution s 175th anniversary
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A growing business
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

