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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Everybody loves World Turtle Day
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Chapel on the rock
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Falling for Rioja
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Hippo family in Chobe National Park, Botswana
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Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco
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Gujō Hachiman Castle, Gifu prefecture, Japan
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Of moles and liquid nitrogen
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A delta in the Venetian Lagoon, Italy
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The Bazaruto Archipelago of Mozambique
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Khao Sok National Park in Thailand
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Manatee Appreciation Day
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A walk among the giants
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Let the Highland games begin
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East River crossing
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Cable car station, Graubünden, Switzerland
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Cappadocia, Türkiye
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Entoloma hochstetteri mushroom at Lake Mahinapua, New Zealand
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They’re grrrape!
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Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri
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Space Week isnt over yet!
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Logan Creek Suspension Bridge, West Coast Trail, Canada
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The stylish Spanish shawl
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Sparkling ice diamonds on a black sandy beach
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Glendurgan Garden hedge maze is 186 years old
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Point Reyes National Seashore in California
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Does it swim in slow motion too?
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Total solar eclipse
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Shark Fin Cove, California
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Harvest time in the Palouse
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Happy trails for the 21st century
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

