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da:Nisse sv:Tomte
A tomte (derived from from the Swedish word for garden, tomt) or nisse (brownie) is a mythical creature of Scandinavian folklore, specifically part of a group of creatures called vetter (elf), common in rural areas. There were two varieties of nisse or tomte, one type that resided in the house (cf. the Russian domovoi) and one that resided in the barn. He would take care of the homestead, crops, house, and people while the human inhabitants slept, unlike the mischievous alver (the typical elves of English folklore).
The tomte was usually depicted as a man in height of four feet or less with a red knitted cap a long white beard and grey clothes. He is thus similar in aspect to a leprechaun, brownie, a gnome or a dwarf, and was the model for Santa Claus. Like the brownie, the tomte or nisse needed gifts, but this gift was a bowl of porridge or rice pudding on Christmas night. If he wasn't given his payment, he would leave the farm or house which couldn't survive without his nightly chores, or engage in mischief, such as tying the cows' tails together in the barn, turning objects upside-down, and breaking things (cf. poltergeist).
The close association between the tomte, kindness (his usual attitude) and Christmas made it natural for Haddon Sundblom to use him in his design of the modern Santa Claus. In Scandinavia, Santa is helped by toy-making tomtar rather than elves, as well.
There is also a great poem in Swedish called "The Tomte" written by Viktor Rydberg in 1881. It is a story of the pre-Santa Claus creature but that works for getting everything in order for the Christmas (or Yule).
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