Tomten
/ˈtɔm.tɛn/noun
A Swedish household spirit or gnome-like guardian associated with farms and winter folklore.
Did you know?The tomten belongs to the old Scandinavian tradition of domestic land-spirit beings, and in older belief you had to treat him with respect or risk his favor turning dangerous.
Etymological Timeline
Old Norse / medieval Scandinavian tradition
ON
tóma?
“Ancient household-spirit traditions later associated with farm guardians; the exact prehistory is debated and not securely attested in a single Old Norse form.”
17th–18th Century
Swedish
tomte
“A farm or house spirit, often imagined as a small bearded man living on the property.”
19th Century
Swedish
tomten
“Definite form of tomte, used for the familiar household guardian spirit in folklore.”
Modern English
English
tomten
“Borrowed term used for the Swedish house-gnome or winter folklore figure.”