A nisse (usually Norwegian) and a tomte (usually Swedish) are similar characters. They are both solitary, mischievous domestic sprites responsible for the protection and welfare of the farmstead and its buildings. Tomte literally means “homestead man” and is derived from the word tomt which means homestead or building lot. Nisse is derived from the name… More Legend of the Nisse and Tomte
Scandinavian Folklore This is a folktale called “The Pancake” or “The Runaway Pancake.” The story is most likely Russian or Scandinavian in origin, and was first written down in Norway in the mid nineteenth century. In Russia, the pancake is a kind of doughy cake called Kolobok. There are versions recorded at around the same… More Scandinavian Folklore and Folktales #3: The Runaway Pancake
One of the most popular folktale is the one about Rumplestilskin. It was made famous as a story by the Grimm Brothers. But as with most folktales, there are versions from many different countries – they are put in a category called “Name of the Helper” by University of Pittsburgh’s Folk and Fairy-Tale Site. In… More Scandinavian Folklore and Folktales #2: The Girl Who Could Spin Gold