Tomteparaden – the Tomte Through the Ages
Oct 6 2023—Jan 14 2024
Tomteparaden (A Parade of Tomtar) presents the wondrous journey of the tomte (pl. tomtar, meaning meaning a supernatural farmstead spirit) through Swedish history. Although this cultural icon has become an essential fixture of one of our most important holidays, there is little awareness of its multicultural roots today. Through a fusion of influences, religious customs, and folklore, we will be embarking on a multifaceted exploration in which we will encounter a saint, the Christmas goat, helpful tomtar, and the grouchy gårdstomte (farmstead spirit) who turned Nils Holgersson into a lilliputian.