It's funny the way worlds collide in the cyberspace and sometimes need a little extra effort to sort things out and explain different phenomenons - only to in the end realise we are really not that different at all! Just like Wortman in Germany, Nirak in Austria claimed she had not seen any tomtar but when I reassured her that I was certain at least some of them lived in her country she started to do research on the matter.
Ok, dear Nirak, here we go:
*WE have Jultomten, Julbocken or Julgubben - YOU have Weihnachtsmann
*WE have vättar - YOU have wichteln
*WE have hustomtarna och småfolket - YOU have Heinzelmännchen
... but all of them are TOMTAR!
Where I live there are certain kinds of tomtar who have as a mission to help Santa Claus out in his workshop and other ones to spy on wether kids behave bad or good, and thereby are entitled to get their christmas gifts. It was very common when I was little that parents used to warn their kids: "You'd better be careful with what You're doing this time of year, the "tomtar" might be looking in through Your window!"
You have been - and still are! - a marvellous assistant in collecting tomtar, and I have learned a lot about the christmas tradition in Your country from Your blog.
I wish You a really nice Christmas and a Happy New Year, NIRAK!
/Anni
9 kommentarer:
So You have found the rigth words for the little tomtar-story.
After your legend I see it clearly, the mythically world of this supernatural, maybe celestial being.
DANKE ANNI : )
*wow* no. 27 for nirak.
anni, your collection expand more and more. maybe in a few years we call it the world-renowned collection of tomtars :)
wortman : D
It might well be, as your words would imply ..
The last "Anonymus-Kommentar" ..
That was clumsy of me ;)
I suddenly remembered that today, December 21st, is 'Piiskanpaavo's Day'. Have you heard of it? Piiskanpaavo is this mysterious and slightly (or not so slightly) mean figure who goes around to check at windows for naughty kids. He's sweeping the field clear for the arrival of the 'Man' himself and so he carries a branch that he isn't shy to use if he finds naughty kids. Piiskanpaavo is a figure you don't want to meet!
should i send you the rubber-duck-tomte? :)
we will see nirak :)
Nirak
Oh, we've got so much magic here up north You could not believe it! Long and dark midwinternights triggers the imagination of people to the extremes. ;-)
Thank YOU, Nirak!
Wortman
Well, there has alway been tomtar around, also in the cyberspace, but this collection of evidence is of course different: it's very up-to-date! :-D
Nirak
I don't mind, You can be anonymous if You want to! ;-)
M
Yes, I've heard of Piiskanpaavo. That tradition is more common among the finnish speaking population, I believe, but I did hear about him from my father who is bilangual. I don't know if Piiskanpaavo has any allies in central europe or the U.S but I read earlier in Nirak's blog about Krampus and he seems to be a very mean guy too...
Wortman
Is it a disobedient rubber-duck-tomte? ;-) Yes, send it, please!
mail must be arrived ;)
It has arrived! :-)
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