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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An improbable tribute for Towel Day
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Art abounds at the Palais Garnier
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Porto Cathedral, Portugal
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Veterans Day
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Skaftafell, Vatnajökull National Park, Iceland
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Happy Independence Day!
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Belgium celebrates its independence
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Night of the ‘Cold Moon’
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A Eurasian lynx in Siberia
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Rethymno, Crete, Greece
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Málaga, Spain
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Atolls in the Maldives
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How do ladybugs winter?
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‘You should see the one that got away!’
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An emerald isle of the Emerald Isle
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Great Backyard Bird Count
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American Eagle Day
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Notes from an underground lake
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Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau castles, Bavaria, Germany
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Serra de Tramuntana, Majorca, Spain
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Lace up your hiking boots for Mountain Day
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Borobudur Temple, Java, Indonesia
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Four little birds sitting in a tree…
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Nesting season for the leatherbacks
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Spire Cove in Kenai Fjords National Park, Seward, Alaska
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Zion National Park turns 103
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Salt evaporation ponds on the island of Gozo, Malta
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Bonaventure Cemetery, Savannah, Georgia
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What are these creatures?
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International Day of the World s Indigenous Peoples
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

