Rasmussen sharing tomtes collection at library

Fairfield resident Martha Rasmussen is sharing part of her collection of Scandinavian tomtes, adding colorful holiday cheer at the Fairfield Public Library.

In the glass display case near the Fairfield Volunteer Center, red and white dressed Danish gnome or sprite-like figures are engaged in several holiday, daily and winter activities. A smaller group of Swedish tomtes, dressed in that country?s flag colors of blue and yellow are a bit more sedate.

?Jane Rowe and I volunteered to be responsible for changing out the displays throughout the year,? said Rasmussen. ?Most of the time, other people donate their collections of something to be on display.

?Thinking about Christmas, Jane and I discussed it and I decided to bring some of my tomtes in and share because they?re so fun.?

Tomte is a Swedish name given to the mythical Brownies or goblins that descend upon Scandinavian cities at Christmastime, according to Rasmussen?s book, ?Christmas in Scandinavia,? published by World Book Encyclopedia Inc., Chicago, 1977.

The word comes from the Swedish tomt, meaning house lot, or yard; Norway and Denmark call them nisse.

?They have been around for centuries, playing malicious tricks on humans, or ?when in the mood ? offering a helping hand,? according to ?Christmas in Scandinavia.?

?In Denmark, Norway and Sweden, this annual invasion began about 125 years ago. Before that, the goblins? natural habitat had always been on the farm. In ancient times, farmers believed that the spirit of the land?s first settler remained somewhere about, perhaps near his burial mound. This ?ancestor? felt that he was still the rightful owner of the land, and it was considered wise to offer his ghost something to eat and drink at Christmas, when the dead were supposed to return.

?Later on, the ancestral farm-dweller somehow became mixed up with a goblin-figure called a nisse. In Sweden he is known as tomte. He lived in the stable, and was capable of causing enormous mischief if crossed. They were typically goblin like, peevish and ill tempered. They were guardians of house and barn, very concerned with the welfare of the farm and animals.?

Rasmussen said she and her husband have collected tomtes throughout the years in their travels.

?Some of them we?ve purchased while traveling in Scandinavia, and some in our travels around the states,? she said. ?There?s the wonderful Swedish Museum not too far away in Swedesburg, We?ve bought some there.?

In Scandinavian countries, it is a tradition to leave a bowl of porridge with a pat of butter on top for tomtes on Christmas Eve, similar to American children leaving Santa cookies and milk.

The library?s display case has no bowls of steaming porridge, but some of the tomtes are carrying bowls. Many have long beards and are dressed in fur, to keep warm during those northern winters. The display includes a fallen skier, tomtes sledding, and some playing with snowballs. One tomte gathering logs for a fire wears an exaggerated tall red hat. Another, carrying a lantern, seems to be one long beard with a face. Grandma tomtes are in aprons and carrying rolling pins or a basket to market. One boy rides a red pig.

A traditional straw goat, a smaller version of the roadside landmark along Highway 61 at the turnoff to Swedesburg, stands in back, with some of the larger figures.

?This display is a small part of our collection,? said Rasmussen. ?We have so many now, it?s hard to keep track. When we see one in a shop now, we have to stop and wonder if we already have one like that.?

Rasmussen will share more of her collection of tomtes at the Fairfield Women?s Club?s Christmas at McElhinny House, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.