“Midvinternattens köld är hård,
stjärnorna gnistra och glimma.
Alla sova i enslig gård
djupt under midnattstimma.
Månen vandrar sin tysta ban,
snön lyser vit på fur och gran,
snön lyser vit på taken.
Endast tomten är vaken.”

English translation:
“Harsh is the cold of Midwinter's night,
the stars sparkle and twinkle.
All asleep in lonely farm,
deep during midnight hour.
The moon wanders its silent path,
the snow gleams white on pine and fir,
the snow gleams white on the roofs.
Only the tomte is awake.”

The first segment of the Yule poem "Tomten" by Viktor Rydberg.

Here's a video I helped out with last winter.
Also contains short footage of our offering of porridge. Happy Yule! 🎄

https://youtu.be/Q_VOi6rf4UA

I wish you all a happy Yule!

Swedish inscription translates: ”This little farmhouse gnome was found by my father the winter of 1866 inside the old barn wall. He was by then already long since deseased.”

Happy New Year! 🎆

“Gnomes represent a very real force in nature. Little children naturally imagine and can become a part of the world of gnomes and fairies, but as they get older the pressures of the outer technological world crowd in so that it can become difficult for them to retain their vision into adult life.”

— Ann Atkin