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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Happy International Day of Forests!
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Meerkat family
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Abraham Lake, Alberta, Canada
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Naxos, Cyclades, Greece
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Copper Falls State Park, Wisconsin, USA
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Town of Pienza in Tuscany, Italy
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Trusty water-shifters
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Blue-throated toucanet, Los Quetzales National Park, Costa Rica
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The Blue City of Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
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Golden Bridge, Bà Nà Hills, Da Nang, Vietnam
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Cave Dale and Peveril Castle, England
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Berlin Cathedral and Museum Island, Berlin, Germany
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Scenic Mount Michener
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2026 Winter Olympics
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Emerald Bay and Fannette Island, Lake Tahoe, California, United States
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Alps of the sea
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Modica, Sicily, Italy
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Great horned owl
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Golconda Fort in Hyderabad, Telangana
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Lake Louise, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
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Why is this cliffside ablaze?
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See-through cephalopod
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International Mountain Day
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Point Reyes National Seashore, California, USA
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Container ship near a port in Thailand
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Devetashka Cave, Devetaki, Bulgaria
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Least chipmunk, Kootenai National Forest, Montana, United States
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Beauty all around
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Notre-Dame Cathedral, Paris, France
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Happy World Whale Day!
Bing Wallpaper Gallery


