Family Treasures from Denmark

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Family Treasures from Denmark
Norway

• A Peek Into Scandanavias
• Past Present

By Michele Jacobsen
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Denmark and Norway
Linked by History and Location
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Denmarks Nisser Elves

• Needlepoint Wall Hanging
• Ancient links with Christianity
• Past and Present links with Christmas
• Legend of Risengrod

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Where the Nisser Come fromAn Ancient Danish
Story

• Nisser are Scandinavian relatives of the pixie
  and imp.
• There is an ancient story that our Lord, when he
  expelled the fallen angels, let some of them drop
  down upon the hills, where they live still, and
  are called Bjergfolk (mountain goblins), or
  Trolde (imps). They are always afraid, and flee
  away when it thunders, which is for them a voice
  from heaven.
• Others fell down in the alder moors they are
  called Elverfolk (alder folks), and among them
  the women are very handsome to look at, but not
  to trust their backs are also hollow, like a
  dough-trough.
• Others fell down in old farms and houses they
  became dwarfs and Nisser (elves).

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Christmas Traditions in Denmark

• In Denmark, Christmas is known as "Jul," an old
  Nordic word that means "feast." Its celebration
  begins four Sundays before Christmas Eve with
  Advent, which celebrates the coming of Christ.
• On December 23, it is Lille (little) Jule
  (Christmas) Aften (Eve)-- and this is the
  celebration for the elves and the animals.
• The elves get big bowls of Julegrød (Christmas
  porridge) --rice pudding/porridge (usually warm)
  -- their favorite dish. Usually the Danish
  mother makes lots of rice pudding because she
  serves it to her family on Christmas Eve, the
  next evening.
• Christmas is celebrated on the 24th of December
  in Denmark, with a Christmas dinner for the whole
  family. Presents are traditionally unwrapped
  after dinner.

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Tricky Nisser Elves

• Every December, Denmark is overrun by a host of
  the little folk known as Nisser.
• Although having a similar taste in clothing to
  Father Christmas, Nisser tend to favour a more
  practical look, preferring grey trousers (or
  skirt for Mrs. Nisse), wooden shoes and a long
  pointed red cap.
• But watch out! Nisser have a tendency to
  misbehave if they don't get their way, and for
  generations Danish children have been pacifying
  them with little bowls of risengrød or rice
  porridge hidden in the attic.
• In fact the only real proof of the Nissers'
  existence is that somehow the porridge is gone
  the next morning!

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Nissers Julegrød Song

• There is a very famous song about the Nisser and
  his or her rice porridge
• På loftet sidder nissen med sin Julegrød, sin
  Julegrød...
• Han nikker og han spiser for han er så glad
• For Julegrød er hans beste mad!
• A rough translation
• In the attic sits the elf with his Christmas
  porridge, his Christmas porridge
• He nods and he eats because he is so glad
• Cause Christmas porridge is his favorite food!

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Traditional Risengrød
Risengrød (serves 4) 3/4 cup whipping cream
2 tablespoons sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups rice porridge Serve with red fruit
sauce on top.

• A very old tradition calls for mum to slip in
  just one unchopped whole almond.
• Somehow the laws of chance seem always to dictate
  that this almond will end up on the plate of the
  youngest child, qualifying the lucky recipient
  for the almond gift. This is traditionally a
  small pig shaped from fine marzipan, or other
  special chocolates!

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Common Scandanavian Links...Norwegian Nisse

• Norways Nisse is not very much like Santa Claus.
  Actually, there are several types of Nisse in
  Norway. Nisser are elves or gnomes whose legend
  precedes Christianity.
• The best-known Nisse is Fjosnisse, who is short
  and bearded, wears wool clothes and a red knit
  cap, plays tricks on people and animals, and
  lives in a barn or stable.
• The Christmas Nisse is Julenissen, who is closer
  to the American Santa Claus, delivering presents
  to children - but delivering them through the
  front door and not by coming down the chimney.

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Norways Tuftebrua, Near Geilo

• China Plate from Farmour and Far Far
• Story of Tuftebrua
• Past and Present links with Geilo, Norway
• Legend of the Tuftebrua Troll

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What is Tuftebrua?
A Historical Bridge Near Geilo in Western Norway
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Legend of the Tuftebrua Troll

• First Troll Bridge
• An angry troll lives under Tuftebrua, and
  challenges those who want to cross.
• Three Billy Goats Gruff

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Legend According to Arne Thoresen

• The Tuftebrua is similar to the the bridges we
  build for deer, elk, and bears close to Banff and
  Lake Louise.
• The old Norwegians hired a troll, who was in jail
  for bad behavior, to go down there, and watch
  over the bridge so the bad animals, like the
  sheep from the mountain, wouldn't go over the
  bridge into town.
• One day, the troll just disappeared. He probably
  ran off to be with the other trolls.

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Tuftebrua Geilo, Norway
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New Tuftebrua
Local Scenery