What is the Swedish version of Santa Claus?
Jultomten
Jultomten, also known simply as ”Tomten”, is Sweden’s Father Christmas, visiting houses in the afternoon on Christmas Eve (when Christmas in Sweden is celebrated) to distribute presents to children.
What is a Tomten in Sweden?
Tomte (Swedish) or Tonttu (Finnish, also called Nisse in Norway) are solitary, mischievous domestic spirits, responsible for the protection and welfare of a farmstead and its buildings. Tomte literally means ‘homestead man’ and is derived from the word ‘tomt’ which means homestead or building.
What does Sweden celebrate instead of Christmas?
The date of the Epiphany on January 6 is recognized as a religious holiday in Sweden. It is also called trettondedag jul, or “13th-day yule,” as January 6 is the 13th day after Christmas Eve. Christmas trees are taken down on this day, which is the “20th-day yule,” or the 20th day after Christmas Eve.
What is the difference between a gnome and a Tomte?
What are gnomes in Sweden? Swedish gnomes are small elf-like creatures that often lived around houses and in barns, according to legend. The Tomte is fond of caring for children, and if you befriended one of these creatures, then they would help to protect you against misfortune.
Is Christmas big in Sweden?
Today, most Swedes celebrate Christmas in roughly the same way, and many of the local customs and specialities have disappeared, although each family claims to celebrate it in true fashion in their own particular way.
Who is the father of Christmas in Sweden?
Jultomten, also known simply as ”Tomten”, is Sweden’s Father Christmas, visiting houses in the afternoon on Christmas Eve (when Christmas in Sweden is celebrated) to distribute presents to children.
What’s the name of the Santa Claus in Sweden?
Jultomten – Sweden’s Santa Claus. Jultomten, also known simply as ”Tomten”, is Sweden’s Father Christmas, visiting houses in the afternoon on Christmas Eve (when Christmas in Sweden is celebrated) to distribute presents to children. Jultomten is often depicted as a corpulent figure with red clothes and a long white beard, similar to,…
When is the main celebration of Christmas in Sweden?
Christmas in Sweden. Christmas (Swedish: jul, IPA: [¹jʉːl] (listen)) is celebrated throughout December and traditionally until St. Knut’s Day on January 13. The main celebration and the exchange of gifts in many families takes place on Christmas Eve, December 24.
When do people start dressing for Christmas in Sweden?
From around 1880, commercial Christmas tree decorations were readily available in larger Swedish cities, the finest of which were imported from Germany. The day that people in Sweden buy and dress their Christmas tree varies greatly from family to family, but most have them dressed on 13 December and throw them out by 13 January.