Julenissen- Norway’s Christmas Gnomes

About this event

The Julenissen is Norway’s traditional Christmas figure, blending the ancient folklore of the household spirit ( nisse or fjøsnisse ) with modern Santa Claus traditions. He wears a traditional red conical hat ( nisselue ), a grey woolen tunic or Norwegian sweater, a long white beard, and sometimes a heavy fur coat. Rooted in old Norse farm life, the original nisse was a short, temperamental guardian spirit of the farm and animals. To keep the Julenissen happy and prevent practical jokes or misfortune (like hidden tools or sick livestock), families leave out a traditional bowl of rice porridge with utter (and sometimes a touch of sugar or cinnamon) on Christmas Eve. Please join us and be prepared to share how the belief in the Julenisse was celebrated when you were growing up and how you honor that tradition today.

Marg Listug, manager of Livsreise will be presenting this program which was created by Arno Morton, Sons of Norway member in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Arno is not available to join us so graciously has loaned his Power Point to Livsreise. Marg Is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin- Madison and has been manager of Livsreise since 2015. Both grandparents on her mother’s side of the family immigrated separately from Norway to the U.S. in the early 1900’s.

Marg is also a member of Sons of Norway, Daughters of Norway, Gudbrandsdalen Lag, the American Scandinavian Foundation, and is a past recipient of the Stoughton Community Appreciation Award. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Norwegian-American Genealogical Center and Naeseth Library in Madison.

From Norwegian Heritage Center