Thursday, May 29, 2025

Polaris of Enlightenment

Ad:

The farmstead gnome – A protective being in Nordic folklore

Published 27 December 2024
– By Editorial Staff
Christmas card by the Swedish artist Jenny Nyström and an engraving by Andreas Flinch after a drawing by the Danish artist Johan Thomas Lundbye.

–The farmstead gnome has played a prominent role in Swedish folklore as one of the most important protective spirits. His influence was so significant that people not only offered him food but also prepared a straw bed for him. A satisfied gnome would bring prosperity, known as “tomtebolycka”, to the household, while a displeased one could bring misfortune.

In Nordic folklore, the farmstead gnome is among the most well-known beings, enjoying a particularly close connection with Swedes. Tales of various supernatural entities were common, but gnomes were especially prevalent and widely believed in. The Institute for Language and Folklore (ISOF) houses over a thousand archival stories about these gnomes.

“My mother had seen a gnome. She was so sure of it. She was walking along a road when she saw a tiny man with a red cap running ahead of her. When they reached a fork in the road, he ran down the other path” recounted Adolf Johansson, born in 1883 (recorded by Ragnar Nilsson, IFGH 4786, p. 4, Institute for Language and Folklore, Gothenburg).

The word “tomte” originates from the term tomt (homestead) and was previously used in the form tomt-gubbe, later evolving into tomtegubbe, according to the cultural organization Kulturminnet. The being is also known by other names, such as gårdstomte, hustomte, tomtevätte, tomtrået, tomtenisse, or tomtebisse.

Christmas cards by artist Jenny Nyström.

The Spirit of the Farmstead

The term bisse means leader, sage, or “top hen” (a Swedish expression for “head honcho”). In many ways, the farmstead gnome fulfilled such a role. He watched over the farm and assisted with daily chores, such as sifting flour, sweeping, haymaking, carrying straw, and tending to the animals. He was often described as the very spirit of the farm. Some stories claimed that he was the first man to cultivate the land, unable to rest in death and thus continuing to guard “his” farm.

The farmstead gnome is closely related to the vätte, a subterranean being believed to dwell beneath human houses in folklore.

Finding a horse with a braided mane in the morning was a sign that the gnome had visited the stable. Gnomes were said to love horses and braiding their manes. The horse, considered the gnome’s favorite animal, was never to be neglected, as mistreatment could have severe consequences.

A Temperamental Being

The gnome brought security to everyday life, and his satisfaction was key to the farm’s success. However, he was easily angered and intolerant of negligence. A dirty barn could earn someone a slap or a kick. It was crucial to avoid working at night on the farm, as that was the gnome’s time for labor. Disturbing him could result in a noisy reprisal the following night.

“They didn’t like it when people made noise after dark. If you did, the same noise would return later, without anything being done. I heard it myself more than once. I also saw them once”, said Ingeborg Nilsson West, born in 1836 (recorded by Olle Lindskog, IFGH 964, pp. 11–12, Institute for Language and Folklore, Gothenburg).

The gnome was considered conservative and resistant to modern agricultural machinery or significant changes. Introducing too many modern elements could prompt him to abandon the farm, an ominous sign. If angered, the gnome might kill a cow or otherwise sabotage farm work, according to ISOF records. A farm’s prosperity or hardship was often attributed to the state of its gnome.

Rewards and Rituals

Rewarding the gnome was crucial. People commonly prepared a straw bed for him in the barn and offered him tobacco, which he reportedly enjoyed. At Christmas, it was traditional to leave out a bowl of porridge, leading to the term tomtegröt. The porridge had to include butter, as one story illustrates:

“They had to give the gnome milk and porridge on Christmas Eve. There had to be butter in the porridge. At one place here, they had a gnome. They gave him porridge on Christmas Eve, but there was no butter on top. The butter was underneath, but the gnome didn’t see it. He became so furious that he went to the barn and killed their best cow”, recounted Viola Gustafsson in 1927 (IFGH 937, pp. 40–41, Institute for Language and Folklore, Gothenburg).

The gnome was often credited with magical powers, such as saving farms from famine by increasing grain yields or warning of dangers like fire or livestock illness. A satisfied and content gnome symbolized security and prosperity, embodying the concept of tomtebolycka.

A well-known legend tells of the gnome pulling a straw of hay. He huffs and puffs with effort, which prompts the farmer to mock him for struggling with such a small load. The gnome becomes angry and retorts that if he exerts as much effort back at the farmer as the farmer has mocked him, the farmer will have nothing left to boast about. In reality, the gnome had been carrying far more than the farmer realized, and after the incident, the farmer ends up impoverished.

Gnomes. Olaus Magnus’ History of the Nordic Peoples. Book 3 – Chapter 22 – On the Service of Spirits. – Published in 1555.

Common in the smithy

The farmstead gnome was not confined solely to farms. There are also tales of forest gnomes, who, for example, would wake charcoal burners if their kilns began to burn during the night. A story from Axel Lind, born in 1884 and recorded by Olle Lindskog in 1927, describes how blacksmiths were particularly superstitious and believed strongly in gnomes.

“My uncle used to say that if a blacksmith tried to take coal from a bin that wasn’t his own, the gnome would immediately appear and give him a resounding slap”, reads one account in IFGH 961, pp. 5–9, Institute for Language and Folklore, Gothenburg.

The origins of belief in the farmstead gnome are unclear, but according to the Nordic Museum (Nordiska museet), it can be traced back to at least the 7th or 8th century. In written records, the gnome is mentioned by Saint Birgitta, who in the 14th century criticized the custom of offering porridge to the gnome, considering it ungodly. The Swedish priest Olaus Magnus also references gnomes in his book History of the Nordic Peoples, where he includes illustrations of them.

Invisible to most

The farmstead gnome is a being that typically remains invisible but is sometimes said to reveal itself to certain individuals. Those who were synsk or clairvoyant might catch a glimpse of the gnome, but it was crucial to show him respect. Generally, people knew a gnome was present on the farm not by seeing him, but by noticing the traces of his work.

The gnome is often described as a small, elderly man, ranging in size from a few decimeters to roughly the size of a child.

“In Restebacken, my father saw a gnome. He was as small as a three-year-old child but as quick as a cat”, recounted Maja Kajsa Johansson, born in 1868 (recorded by Ragnar Nilsson, IFGH 3018, p. 6, Institute for Language and Folklore, Gothenburg).

The gnome is sometimes described as a being with one eye but more often as a figure with two green eyes that glow in the dark. He frequently has white or gray hair and a beard, typically dressed in gray clothes and a gray or red cap. Occasionally, people would gift him new clothes as a kind gesture, but they had to be modest. If the clothes were too extravagant, he might deem himself “too fine” to work.

The gnome was believed to be incredibly strong and was said to be able to lift an entire horse. He could also be mischievous, hiding objects or playing pranks. Even today, the expression “the household gnome has been up to something” is used jokingly when something goes missing. There are also tales of the gnome amusing himself by throwing items down chimneys.

Unlike other beings that often lived in families, the gnome is usually described as solitary. However, there are stories that mention female gnomes (tomtegummor) and gnome children. The gnome often resided in the farm’s stable or barn but could also inhabit the mill, smithy, distillery, mine, ship, or even inside the house.

Gnomes and Christmas

In Sweden and the Nordic countries, there are two distinct types of gnomes: the farmstead gnome (gårdstomte) and the Christmas gnome (jultomte). The traditional red-clad Christmas gnome traces its origins to legends about the generous Saint Nicholas, who later became known as Santa Claus. According to Kulturminnet, Santa Claus gained popularity in Sweden during the 1860s. While Santa Claus is widely recognized around the world, in Sweden, his image has been influenced by the farmstead gnome. As a result, the Swedish Christmas gnome is often considered a blend of the farmstead gnome and Santa Claus.

Illustration inspired by the poem “The Gnome.” Illustration: Jenny Nyström/New Illustrated Magazine

Two individuals were particularly instrumental in shaping the Swedish image of the Christmas gnome: the author Viktor Rydberg and the artist Jenny Nyström. In 1871, Rydberg published the Christmas tale Lille Viggs äventyr på julafton (Little Vigg’s Adventure on Christmas Eve), a story that doesn’t directly feature the Christmas gnome but instead includes a gift-giving goblin (vätte). Nyström illustrated the tale, and the goblin became a prototype for the Swedish Christmas gnome. Rydberg is said to have given Nyström detailed instructions on how this goblin should be portrayed. Together, they helped connect the traditional household gnome to Christmas. Nyström continued to refine the image of the gnome in Sweden, painting thousands of Christmas postcards and illustrating Rydberg’s famous poem Tomten (The Gnome), which begins:

The midwinter night’s cold is harsh,
the stars sparkle and glimmer.
All are asleep in the lonely farmstead,
deep in the midnight hour.
The moon walks its silent path,
the snow glows white on pine and fir,
the snow glows white on the rooftops.
Only the gnome is awake

It is unclear who first coined the term jultomte (Christmas gnome), but Jenny Nyström continued to draw significant inspiration from the farmstead gnome of folklore. In this way, the modern Swedish Christmas gnome has become firmly rooted in holiday traditions, according to the Nordic Museum.

One notable distinction of the Swedish Christmas gnome is that he is rarely associated with reindeer. In Swedish tradition, the gnome instead travels with horses, goats, or pigs. He is most often depicted as solitary, walking through the snow with a sack on his back.

The Farmstead Gnome Today

Despite an increasingly secularized society and a decline in belief in supernatural beings, folklore still holds a place in our collective consciousness. Many old myths and beliefs have adapted and endured over time, often taking on new forms, rooted in a deep human need to understand the world through the mystical and inexplicable. In an age where science explains the physical world, the supernatural continues to fascinate, providing space for stories and traditions.

Interest in folklore is not merely a relic of the past. It thrives in contemporary popular culture, where farmstead gnomes and other mythical beings are brought to life in books, films, and TV series. Even modern media, such as podcasts, frequently share new accounts of supernatural phenomena. It is also intriguing to observe how traditions from other cultures, like American “Nisse doors”, are gaining popularity in Sweden. This demonstrates the universal and timeless appeal of mythical figures. Although these nisse differ from the Swedish farmstead gnome, they share a common love for mischief and humor – qualities that ensure such characters remain captivating.

The question of why folklore persists, even in a rational and technological world, is complex. Perhaps it is a way to hold onto something ancient, a link to the past when the world felt more mysterious and uncertain. Or it may reflect an intrinsic human attraction to the unexplained, a need to believe in something beyond what we can see and measure. Whatever the reason, figures like gnomes, farmstead spirits, and other mythical beings will likely remain a part of our shared cultural identity, reminding us that there may be more to the world than we understand.

TNT is truly independent!

We don’t have a billionaire owner, and our unique reader-funded model keeps us free from political or corporate influence. This means we can fearlessly report the facts and shine a light on the misdeeds of those in power.

Consider a donation to keep our independent journalism running…

Israel’s Eurovision public vote record sparks suspicion of coordinated campaign

Published 20 May 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Israeli representative Yuval Raphael performing at this year's Eurovision.

Israel’s contribution to the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 has become a hot topic – not only for its performance, but also for the record-high number of votes from the audience. Now, suspicions are growing that organized campaigns may have influenced the result.

According to the Schibsted newspaper SvD, both experts and Eurovision fans have reacted to Israel receiving so many votes from TV viewers. Israel’s representative Yuval Raphael won the public vote by a large margin, but Austria took home the final victory thanks to higher scores from the jury groups.

As in Malmö last year, Israel’s entry was controversial even before the final, mainly because of the ongoing war in Gaza.

It is worth noting that Yuval Raphael survived the Hamas attack at the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023, and she says that the experience has shaped her and her entry, “New Day Will Rise”, which she believes carries a strong message of hope and reconstruction.

EBU will investigate

According to SvD, there are suspicions of coordinated efforts on platforms such as Telegram, Facebook, and X, where users have shared instructions on how to vote from different countries and use VPN services to circumvent geographical restrictions.

Similar patterns have been seen in previous years, but this year’s mobilization is described as unusually extensive. There have also been reports of automated bots and paid advertisements targeting the Eurovision audience.

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organizes the contest, has confirmed that it is following up on the information and analyzing voting patterns. In a statement, the EBU says it has advanced systems to detect and stop cheating, but that it always reviews its procedures after the contest.

Journalist asked critical questions about Israel – banned from Eurovision

The situation in Gaza

Published 15 May 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Journalist Szymon Stellmaszyk, banned from Eurovision 2025.

Polish journalist Szymon Stellmaszyk has been denied accreditation for this year’s Eurovision Song Contest in Basel. He believes this is due to a critical question he asked Israeli artist Eden Golan last year – something the EBU denies.

Szymon Stellmaszyk has covered the Eurovision Song Contest for 20 years and runs both the Facebook page “Let’s talk about ESC” and the industry website “Radio Newsletter”. This year, for the first time, he has been denied accreditation to cover the contest in Basel.

The background, according to Stellmaszyk himself, is a critical question he asked Israel’s contestant, Eden Golan, during Eurovision in Malmö last year. He asked whether Golan, given the political situation and the war in Gaza, thought her presence could pose a security risk to other participants and the audience.

The question attracted attention and was criticized by some, but Stellmaszyk emphasizes that it was not intended to be offensive or “anti-Semitic”. In an email to Stellmaszyk, which the Swedish state broadcaster SVT has seen, the EBU justifies its decision by saying that the platforms Stellmaszyk uses do not have sufficient reach.

“Restriction”

Szymon Stellmaszyk himself is convinced that the EBU is making excuses and that it is in fact about the question he asked last year.

– This is some kind of revenge and, in practice, a restriction of freedom of expression, he says.

It should also be noted that this year’s EBU media handbook contains a new rule stating that published content must be “respectful” towards Eurovision and the EBU. Eurovision boss Martin Green says the wording is unfortunate and promises that it will be reworded for next year.

At the same time, he does not want to comment on individual cases, but points out that there are a limited number of places for journalists.

The Eurovision Song Contest 2025 will be held in Basel, Switzerland.

Bizarre children’s series described as “digital drug”

Cultural revolution in the West

Published 10 May 2025
– By Editorial Staff
The characters of the children's series Cocomelon with its abnormal proportions.

The children’s series Cocomelon attracts young children around the world with its colorful animations and catchy songs. Despite its enormous popularity, criticism of the series is growing, with some warnings that its extreme editing could have a very negative effect on children’s brains.

More and more parents and experts are questioning the extremely fast pace of Cocomelon and whether the mass-produced style is really good for young minds, or whether it risks overstimulating children and making them restless.

One of the major objections to Cocomelon is its rapid editing technique, where camera angles change every two to three seconds. This is a hectic and exaggerated pace that is unfortunately all too common in modern children’s entertainment, but here it is taken to a new level.

According to a study by PubMed Central (PMC), the executive functions of 4-year-olds, such as self-control and working memory, are at risk of being severely impaired after being exposed to fast-paced clips for too long.

Many parents also report that their children become agitated after watching children’s series such as Cocomelon, and there is plenty of criticism on social media platforms such as X.

Mass-produced aesthetics

Other research also indicates that rapid camera and clip changes can negatively affect young children’s concentration. The fast pace is no accident either. Cocomelon is designed to capture children’s attention, but some argue that it now goes too far.

According to Findmykids.org, the constant impressions can trigger dopamine release, causing children to seek the same quick rewards even outside the screen – something that can make it harder for them to focus on calmer activities such as reading or playing.

In addition to the pace, the series’ aesthetics have also been criticized. Like most animated productions today, the characters have disproportionately large heads and overly cheerful expressions, which some find unpleasant.

For many parents and viewers, it feels like the series is made on an assembly line where quantity takes precedence over quality, resulting in an aesthetic that is more frightening than charming.

Opinions are divided

Unlike traditional cartoons such as Scooby-Doo, Cocomelon is animated in a way that prioritizes quantity over quality, which is evident in the disproportionate characters and the assembly line feel.

Opinions about Cocomelon are divided. Some experts, such as Rebecca Cowan at Walden University, argue that there is insufficient evidence to single out Cocomelon as the problem – instead, it is total screen time that may be harmful.

– Without empirical research on the show Cocomelon, there is no data to substantiate claims that this show is overstimulating due to the pace of the scenes, she says.

But others warn that the series’ pace and overstimulating elements can have a very negative impact on children’s development, especially in terms of concentration and calmness.

Cocomelon may seem like an easy solution for entertaining young children, but it is worth considering what the fast pace and mass-produced style do to young viewers.

Trump wants 100% tariff on foreign films

Donald Trump's USA

Published 9 May 2025
– By Editorial Staff

Donald Trump has announced that he has initiated a process to impose a 100% tariff on all films produced outside the US that are then imported into the country. Critics warn of the consequences and argue that tariffs will worsen the situation for the American film industry.

The decision, which was announced on May 4, is intended, according to Trump, to protect the American film industry, which he believes is on the verge of “a very fast death”, reports industry publication Variety.

– This is a concerted effort by other nations and, therefore, a national security threat. It is, in addition to everything else, messaging and propaganda, Trump wrote on his platform Truth Social.

Trump said he has instructed the Department of Commerce and the US Trade Representative to quickly begin the process of imposing the tariffs.

Exact details on how the tariffs will be implemented, such as whether they will also cover streaming services or how the size of the tariffs will be calculated, have not yet been announced.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has confirmed that the authorities are working on the issue.

“Incredibly stupid”

Many American productions are currently filmed in several countries that offer financial incentives for film production, including Canada, the UK, and Australia, and industry representatives are now concerned about how the tariffs would affect ongoing projects and collaborations.

The chair of the Swedish Film and TV Producers Association, Eva Hamilton, called the proposal “incredibly stupid” and warned that it could isolate the US culturally and economically.

It just sounds incredibly stupid, and I find it hard to see how it could be implemented. He’s right that Hollywood hasn’t kept up, but stopping all foreign expertise sounds like shooting yourself in the foot, Eva Hamilton said in an interview with Schibsted owned TV4.

Trump has previously singled out Hollywood as a “very problematic place” and, in early 2025, appointed actors Jon Voight, Mel Gibson, and Sylvester Stallone as ambassadors to promote American film production.

The American film industry has already been affected by Trump’s trade war, and China, among others, has reduced its quota for American films allowed to be shown in response to the new American tariffs on the country.

Our independent journalism needs your support!
We appreciate all of your donations to keep us alive and running.

Our independent journalism needs your support!
Consider a donation.

You can donate any amount of your choosing, one-time payment or even monthly.
We appreciate all of your donations to keep us alive and running.

Dont miss another article!

Sign up for our newsletter today!

Take part of uncensored news – free from industry interests and political correctness from the Polaris of Enlightenment – every week.