#tomtar

Podcast! It actually started happening before Christmas! Just the first of many this year. And the story contest show is almost done, too.

Tomtar

Two Tomtar. In english Tomtar is called Elfs, but it's not really the same thing. In the Nordic countries, there is a myriad of different folklore creatures called "Oknytt".

Tomten is perhaps one of the few that some people still believe in, at least a little. Although very few would openly admit so.

A very short description of the Tomtar. Just like humans, they are mortal. However, they live very long lives, perhaps 300-400 years. They also have some magical abilities. Most notably, the ability to turn invisible. They can also make their home invisible.

A Tomte is the protector and caretaker of a place. You can be certain that every old farm has one or several Tomtar looking after the place, even if it is abandoned. You can also find Tomtar in churches, castles, graveyards, barns and cottages. In fact, there is probably a Tomte in every building. Even newer ones.

Tomtar also resides in the forests. If a stretch of road running through or near a forest and has more accidents than usual then Tomtar may be the cause. They are probably angry at the traffic. Despite this, Tomtar are usually good and helpful as long as you do not anger them. If you do, they can be very vengeful.

Some things you absolutely should avoid if you want "your" Tomte to stay friendly:

Never be mean to animals

Never throw out hot water without first shouting a warning to the Tomte

Never forget to give porridge to the Tomte on Christmas

Never destroy large rocks or trees on your land unless you really have to. The Tomte will know if it was absolutely necessary or not.

In Swedish folklore, trollflätor (literally 'troll braids') are thought to be caused either by the gårdstomte (farm gnome), the trolls or the vittra. They are also known as tomteflätor ('gnome braids') or vitterflätor/vittreflätor ('vittra braids'). Marflätor ('mare braids') look similar, but they're not the same thing as trollflätor.

Some say that trollflätor is a sign of the gårdstomte being pleased with the way the farmer cares for his horses. Others say that the gårdstomte marks and protects his favourite horses by braiding their manes.

"The gnome braided the mane of some of the horses in the stable. Where the gnome was, the horses would thrive. [...] The horses that get their manes braided by the gnome enjoy [living in] the stable."

- Ingrid-M. Norin, Borgsjö socken, Medelpad. 1946.

"[The mane] was braided on such a sophisticated fashion that there was no part where you could begin the unravelling. It stayed (braided) like that for three days, and then it was unraveled, all by itself, and the mane was all curly and beautiful. As long as it stayed curly, it was left alone, but then [after the curls had disappeared] it would get braided again. It was a gnome that did this, but the owner [of the horse] said that the gnome only did good things [and helped the farmer]."

- Värmlandssägner

Sometimes though, it was the trolls or the vittra who braided the manes:

"A farm hand from Glimåkra socken (socken = parish) was traveling to Kristianstad [by horse and carriage]. On the way there, he saw how the mane of the horse was being braided and fluffed. He jumped off the wagon and a look through the bridle. Therewith he saw a nasty little [spawn of a] troll sitting on the crupper."

- Nils Ek, Glimåkra socken, Skåne. 1922.

However, if you find your horses sweaty and exhausted, and with matted manes and/or tails in the morning, they've probably been ridden by the mare.

"Maran rides (on) both people and cattle, and to the point of them being totally exhausted. She used to braid the manes of the horses when she rode them in the night, and that's how you could tell that the mare had been there. If you shot a magpie and placed it over the stable door, the mare would shun [the place]."

- Nanne Johansson, Askome socken, Halland. 1928.

If you don't want to shoot a magpie, you could protect your horse by drawing a markors ('mare cross') on their stall door, or by placing a mirror behind the horse, or even by hanging the blade of a scythe over the horse.

Pictured: a type of five-pointed markors (they can also be six-pointed sometimes).

A horse with marflätor will be anxious, sweaty and exhausted in the morning. A horse with trollflätor will be calm, relaxed and well rested.

Either way, removing the braids will bring you (and/or your horses) misfortune and illness.

Had a merry christmas eve with my family. ❤️ Hade en härlig julafton med familjen. ❤️

Swedish christmas food. Traditionell julmat.

December 2022