Scandinavian Nisse

Scandinavian Nisse   
December 12th


The Americans have Santa Claus, the Brits have Father Christmas and the Scandinavians have nisse,

Jul nisse with grøt, øl and a cat, but could
easily have been a pig or a goat,
typical animals found on a Scandinavian farm

but who are they?

In Norway and Denmark these little house/barn elves are indeed known as Nisse, but in Sweden, they are called Tømte Nisse and in Finland they are Tonttu.  These mythical creatures from Scandinavian folklore are usually associated with the winter months, especially the winter solstice and Christmas.

Being shy creatures they were not often seen and lived in forests, barns or attics.  Historically Nisse tended to attach themselves to a family of farmers and were known to work hard and create harmony and look after the farmstead, the home itself and especially the animals.  All they demanded in return for their hard work and bringers of luck, warding off evil was to be respected and fed at Christmas with traditional Grøt and øl (porridge and beer) 

Woe betides the family that did not respect the nisse as he was also known to be of bad temperance and very mischievous once upset.  One famous legend that is often retold was that the nisse became so furious when the grøt he was presented with did not have any butter that he killed the farmers best milking cow.  Only later to learn the farmer had butter in the grøt but that it was underneath.  On discovering his mistake the nisse stole the neighbouring farmers best milking cow to replace the one he had killed!

Grøt ~ porridge with butter, sugar and cinnamon

Today the nisse is depicted as a cheery soul with ruddy red cheeks, short and stumpy wearing a red pointed hat.  Historically the hat and clothes used to be navy blue or grey, but the hat was indeed red matching that which Scandinavian farmers wore.  It is said that nisse can become invisible and this is how they either work hard or create their mischief without being observed.  It is said the inside of their red hats is grey and that when they turn the hat inside out to have the grey side showing they become invisible!

In modern time the nisse is often just associated with Christmas and so has become known as Jul nisse.  A male family member will dress up as the Jul nisse wearing a nisse mask and costume and visits all the young children on Christmas Eve, asking each one if they have been good.  He frequently will ask the children to sing him a song and in return will deliver presents.  The song generally sung to the nisse  is this one:   Christmas Eve song is sung in Norwegian with the following translation:  

In the Barn Sits the Nisse

In the barn sits the nisse with his Christmas porridge
So good and sweet, so good and sweet
He nods and he eats and he is so happy
‘Cause Christmas porridge is what he loves
But around are all the little rats
And they peek, and they peek
"We really want some Christmas goodies!”
And they dance, dance around in a circle

But the nisse waves his big spoon
“Oh no, you be on your way!
’cause I want my porridge to myself
and I’ll share with no one, no one else!”
But the rats they jump and dance
and they waggle, and they sway
They scratch at the porridge and they stop,
and they stand close to the nisse

But old nisse is a feisty one,
and with his body, he makes a jump.
“I’ll get the cat if you don’t let off!
When the cat gets here, this will stop!”
Then the rats all run so scared,
oh so scared, oh so scared.
They sniff at the porridge a few times,
and one, two, three they are gone.

We too carried on the tradition of the Jul nisse visiting our children on Christmas eve, but I was very mindful that the shoes or boots worn were not ones that could be easily identified.  Our most memorable visit was when Ella was perhaps 4 years old.  She heard the bell ringing by the Jul nisse, looked out of the front window to see him walking up the drive, jumped up and down as if she were a teenager in a pop concert and promptly fainted from sheer excitement!   Another year the Jul nisse tried to give her a present clearly labelled for Eleanor, Ella seeing this squealed in delight barely able to contain her excitement whispering this was her best friend and she lived only a few doors away, the Jul nisse said that he visited all good children and Eleanor must be a lovely girl; Ella beamed.  But careful we were with the visits as my mother as a young girl recognized her uncle's boots and the magic was lost...

Over the years I have shown you many of my nisse that I have in our home, so today instead I bring you a round up of ones online that I particularly like.

Crochet Nisse ~ click link for the crochet pattern

Typically short with a large nose,
this is the perfect nisse

Tomte nisse ~ Swedish by name by showcasing the necessary long beard

Korknisse bent hat ~ over the years we have made many of these, I think my mother first made one about 40 years ago, I love this version though with the bent hat.  For both knitted and crocheted versions click here: Nisse ~ eclectic home life

Pattern on Ravelry:  Nisse

Two nisse with heart hats   ~ I just adore these nisse, a very modern take but super sweet.  I have not made them but they are on my list to give them a go.  The pattern is in Swedish but she does have a translate button, if you make them before I do, please let me know. 

And finally, a large Nisse made in the style of amigurumi from the blog 1dogwoof, Nisse pattern

Do you have any Nisse/Father Christmas patterns to share?   ♥