Norway's legendary nisse, the elf who symbolizes Christmas to generations of Norwegians, was born of ancient folk beliefs.

Most Norwegians have their own ideas about how nissen looks and acts, but he is generally thought of as a short, stocky fellow with a long, gray beard and a red knitted cap. He usually wears dark knickers and a shirt and vest or a sweater, and his eyes always twinkle with mischief.

Today, adults and children alike anticipate the traditional appearance of nissen with great joy. His visits, when he brings children Christmas gifts and greets everyone warmly, represent the essence of the Christmas season. Without nissen's presence, generations of Norwegians would think Christmas incomplete.

But the role of nissen wasn't always that of festive gift-giver. Several decades ago, he was often though of primarily as the protector of the family farm.

In my childhood home in Norway, my parents treasured tradition and storytelling. Because of that, much of what I and other Norwegians know about nissen came from oral traditions passed down through generations. No one knows for certain how the legend of nissen started, but over the years storytellers added their own touches. Therefore, nissen's characteristics have changed over time, just as Christmas celebrations have evolved.

During the early Christmas era and beyond, Norwegians still believed strongly in stories about the netherworld figures, hill folk and nisser. Some believed nissen was also rudkallen, or the spirit of a farm's owner who first cleared the land. As time passed, nissen became known as the self-appointed protector of the farm. Just as Vikings believed that offering food to their gods would ensure favors in return, farmers believed that rudkallen would protect them if they treated him well.

It’s not clear exactly when many Norwegians began naming the mythical figure. They gave the name tunkall to friendly spirits, or elves, that belonged to their farms. A tomtegubben was a little old man or gnome. Those characters were all ancestors of today’s nisse, which many Norwegians still think of as real.

It is certainly been about a century and a half since nissen began bringing gifts to well-behaved children. That tradition probably started with the Bishop St. Nicholas in Myra, Turkey, sometime around 300 A.D. According to the 1966 World Book Encyclopedia, St. Nicholas was revered for his good deeds, and he was credited with many miraculous events(written accounts don't say what kinds of miracles he performed). After his death on December 6 (the year of death is unknown), his reputation spread across Europe, and his name began to be used in many forms. In fact, today much of Europe observes December 6 as a special holiday in honor of St. Nicholas. In the North, he was given the name nissen, which is believed to have come from the Danish word Nils. Some linguists say that word is derived from the word "Nikolaus."

Nissen has always been believed to be diminutive, but his exact height has also changed over the years. At one time, the legend has it that the elf was tiny, only several inches high, But gradually nissen's identity perhaps melded a bit with that of Santa Claus, and people came to think that nissen was the size of a small human.

Though small, nissen was powerful. He seemed to like humans that is, if he was treated with the respect he felt he deserved. On the farm, he helped with the work in mysterious ways. For example, because he enjoyed helping horses more than cows, he would often steal hay from the cows to give an extra portion to a favorite horse.

Most people believed that if nissen was neglected, especially on Christmas Eve, he would cause havoc throughout the coming year. His trickery could contribute to crop failure and sickness for both animals and people. Sometimes he would even tie the animals' tails together!

Nissen expected to be treated well on Christmas Eve. He enjoyed being served large wooden bowls filled with steaming r|mmegr|t(sour cream porridge), with a big sm|r|ye, or "eye of buter," in the center. Today, he prefers rice porridge, but the butter is still a must.

Carrying his bowl to the barn on Christmas Eve was the dairymaid's job. In the middle of black winter nights, young maids nearly scared out of their wits would rush into dark, forlorn barns to leave him his treat. The maids often thought that nissen was watching their every move from behind some dark corner. When the girls went to find the bowls the next morning, the dishes would be licked clean. That surely was proof enough that the creature existed!

According to one oral legend, which Nowregian folklore expert Olav B| recounts in his book H|gtider og Minnedager(Holidays and Special Days in Norway), a maid in Hallingdal, Norway, had little faith in nissen. So, instead of bringing his porridge to the barn, she ate it herself. When the girl later went to the barn to milk the cow, nissen appeared before her and, mockingly, said, "S} tror du ikke p} nissen, da, s} skal du danse med nissen, da." ("So you don't believe in the nisse. Then you shall dance with the nisse.") He then took her hands and began to swing her around. The maid could not break free. When nissen finally let her go, she fell ill, and she never recovered. Norwegian folklore scholar P.C. Asbj|rnsen recounts a similar version of that story in his book En Gammeldags Julaften, (An Old Fashioned Christmas).

When that story spread across Norway, other dairymaids decided they better continue to brave the dark and cold to bring the feisty elf porridge. And the custom has persisted.

During my youth in Norway, we children felt as though we knew nissen personally, which was probably true. Most families in Norway have an uncle, cousin, or father who transforms himself(with the help of a stiff mask and a costume) into nissen on Christmas Eve. Mysteriously enough, the man will disappear moments before the family hears the long-awaited knock on the door. Then the nisse, with his sack, enters the doorway. The family ushers him with great ceremony, and the elf then asks the question that nisser have asked Norwegian children for generations. "God kveld, god kveld er det noen snille barn her?" ("Good evening, good evening are there any good children here?")

"Yes, I am good," most children say, perhaps fibbing a bit. The youngsters often tremble with a mixture of joy and uneasiness, hoping to measure up to nissen's expectations.

During my youth, it never seemed to matter what nissen brought, but only that he came. Usually he stayed for just a few minutes, because many other children were waiting for him. Later in the evening, we might catch another glimpse of him when he returned to fill the stockings. If not, we took comfort in goodies he left during the night, such as an orange, a marzipan pig, a pair of mittens or a book.

Today, commercialism has invaded Norway, as in all western countries. Many children are familiar only with the department store version of nissen, to whom children tell their wishes.

Yet, most Norwegians know deep in their heart that the true nisse lives. Though his mannerisms and size have changed through the ages, the Norwegian infatuation with nissen continues to burn bright. That is why across Norway, Norwegians still fill wooden bowls with porridge and take them to their barns on Christmas Eve because no one can be sure.

From Christmas in Norway