The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-12-16
NORWAY AND SWEDEN
VuLETlos CUSTOMS IN THE LAND
OF THE VIKINGS.


The peasantry of Norway and Sweden
generally build their homes as near each
other as convenient. Often five to seven
families live adjoining, constituting q
miniature village. After the first day
has passed the enjoyment commences.
Dancing is the principal enjoyment for
the youth, while the old people and the
children stay ut home and rehearse
tales that are replete with orgies and
"Nissen," or "Tomtegubben, as he
also is called. The latter is q miniature
being that corresponds in many respects
10 the Scotch brownie, but is quite
Santa Clauslike In general appearance
The tales that are told have been handed
down from generation to generation,
and were at one time believed, and even
In some districts considerable credence
is still given to what is stated about
these unnatural beings.
Nissen is the being that Is of the
greatest interest to the young. He is
not bad fellow at all, if he can only
have his way. Where he lives no one
knows. 1t is supposed that he spends
the days sleeping in some Of the hills
or under the ground. Although he is
small, he is possessed with super
natural power and can do much to
shape the fate Of person, either good
or bad. Great care Is therefore exer-
cised to do what is known will please
Nissen. Special attention must be given
him Christmas eve. Should he come
around after midnight and his favorite
dish, romegrod, has not been placed
outside near the door, trouble will re-
suit
When the people awake In the morn
ing, they can expect to find their cattle
in terrible condition. Nissen general
ly vents his vengeance on the animals
Of the farm. They will be tired the
next day, showing that Nissen has been
playing some prank with them, thereby
keeping sleep from them. Articles in
the barn will be found topsy turvy,
while the horses have been turned
around in. their stall, but if the dish
has been placed out for him he is hap
py. He shows his gratefulness in deeds
When the hired man in that case goes
out to the barn Christmas morning, he
may expect to find all his chores done.
The horses have been curried so they
look fine as silk, while the cows give
twice their usual amount of milk. In
many cases the wood has been split.
Many superstitious people ON this oc-
casion bar the door with piece of steel
They are afraid of him, and steel is
the only thing that Nissen has no power
over. He has often been known to have
entered the house and stolen food Many
hired girl can vouch for the fact that
she has heard him climbing about ON
the shelves of the larder, and even in a
few cases he has been seen.
The youth still in a manner retain
the habits Of their ancestry. At eventide
they gather together from the small
villages and visit their neighbors AS
rule, the ground at this time Of year is
heavily covered with snow, and the trip
has to be made on skis. This is one of
the most delightful features of the cele-
bration. The ski Is the national article
of locomotion, and the boys and girls
are adopts in the art of standing on
them in the deep declines and rugged
hills. The young people go from neigh
bor to neighbor gathering more of them.
They have often no particular destina
tion, but know they will end some
where. When they come to some partic-
ularly large farmhouse, they drop their
skis and go inside Here everything is
in readiness for them in tho way Of
food, drink and music The fiddler
strikes up his merry tunes, and those
present are hurled into a vortex of mer-
riment.
In most parts of the country this fea-
Cdre is in no way marred, and the dance
goes on until late in the morning, when
the young go home, only to meet some-
where else the following night.
In some Of the primitive parts of Nor
way, as Guldbrandsdalen and Voss,
fights were INDUCED in in years gone
by. This custom has not entirely chang
ed, but the fatalities that were SO COM
mon then do not exist now. Then when
a couple went to one Of these dances
the girl would generally take her low
er's funeral gown along, fully expect
ing that he would need it before the
night had gone.
In the southern part of Sweden, Yul-
lotta, custom that is very beautiful, is
recognized by the peasantry. The early
morning mass at 4 80 Christmas day is
attended by nearly every one. The
members of the congregation have often
as far as seven miles to walk through
the snow. They come from all direc-
tions in delegations, each carrying
long pole upon which piece Of pitch
is burning, AS the surroundings are
still in darkness, the sight Of those
moving lights toward one center is i'm
posing The hired men in this part of
the country have rather peculiar joke
that they try to play upon each other
Christmas morning. 1t is to try to get
mp early and ga over to the neighbors
and perform the chores of the hired
man there before he gets up Great de-
light is taken in the perpetration of this
trick.
In the early part Of the century il