From: tgpedersen
Message: 63559
Date: 2009-03-04
> > We also use the term Chris/Kris Kringle, from Germanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomte
>
> German Christkindl.
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Claus
>
> The story of the Da. nisse or Sw. tomte needs some clarification:
> the nisse or tomte was originally a house spirit, a leprechaun-like
> small imp to whom you should set out food or he would sour the
> cows' milk, burn down the farm or whatever mischief he could think
> of. Andersen has one story about a nisse at Christmas. You used to
> by cut-out cardboard nisser (kravlenisser) to put on top of
> paintings or mirrors or wherever you might stick them at Christmas
> time.