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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Spire Cove in Kenai Fjords National Park, Seward, Alaska, United States
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Black-and-white bovines
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Southern tip of a northern isle
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Eid al-Fitr
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Least chipmunk, Kootenai National Forest, Montana, United States
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Earth Day
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Spanning the soft sunlight
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What waterborne wizardry is this?
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Indian Head Cove, Bruce Peninsula National Park, Canada
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African elephants in Tsavo East National Park, Kenya
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The ancient home of the Minoans
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Salt evaporation ponds on the island of Gozo, Malta
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A delta in the Venetian Lagoon, Italy
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Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA
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English National Ballet performing The Nutcracker
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Pride Month
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Masterpiece of acoustic science
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Sand dunes in the Sahara, Algeria
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Happy Birthday, J.R.R. Tolkien!
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World Octopus Day
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A legend sprung from the ground
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Rapa Nui National Park, Easter Island, Chile
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Prayer flags in Phobjikha Valley, Bhutan
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Iguazu Falls at the border of Argentina and Brazil
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Serra de Tramuntana, Balearic Islands, Majorca, Spain
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Guild houses of Grand-Place, Brussels, Belgium
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Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Islands, Australia
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Easter Sunday
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King of the ocean
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Olive orchard in the Serra de Tramuntana, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

