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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Lion, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda
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Walton Lighthouse, Santa Cruz, California, USA
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Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram, Tamil Nadu
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Golden larches and Prusik Peak, Enchantments, Washington
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Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur
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Night view of the RMS Queen Mary, Long Beach, California, United States
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Colourful beehives, Italy
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Urban planning never stops
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International Tea Day
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Village of Santa Maddalena, Dolomites, Italy
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81st anniversary of D-Day
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Sandstone hoodoos, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, United States
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Thomsons gazelles, Maasai Mara, Kenya
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High above the Aegean Sea
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Black-winged stilts, France
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A beautiful labyrinth
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Nighttime view over the Gulf Coast
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European beech forest, Belgium
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New York City, USA
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Elephant Rock, Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia
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A puzzle for giants
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The Gothic Gate in the Adršpach-Teplice Rocks, Czechia
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Guanaco, Punta Norte, Valdés Peninsula, Argentina
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Sørvágsvatn lake, island of Vágar, Faroe Islands
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An experiment in sustainability
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Farewell, Ma’am
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The fishing village of Reine, Norway
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Sea otter in Prince William Sound, Alaska, USA
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Spiegelgracht canal in Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Collared aracari
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

