In Sweden we have a double tradition with Santa. The traditional myth in Scandinavia is the gnome looking creatures called “tomte”. They take care of the farm and help tend the animals or the ones out in the forest help the animals in the forest. Sort of like vets. People have to treat them right with treats and stuff or they can get mischeivious.
This has become mixed with the Coca Cola Americana Santa Clause. So the “tome” now looking both a little bit like the grey gnomes and a little bit like the coke Santa, usually comes to visit our homes on Christmas eve… that is after an adult realized that “the milk is out” and has to go to the grocery store. Unfortunately that poor adult misses “tomte” coming with his sack of gifts to the kind children. Yes the children gets to meet “tomte” and he makes sure they have been kind and deserves gifts!
This year we changed the tradition. Tomte didn´t come to us, we went to the tomte. There is a kids song in Swedish about a poor rabbit that knocks on the tomte´s cabin door. The tomte then of course saves the rabbit from the hunter. The tomte, according to the song lives in a little cabin at the edge of the forest. So… naturally we had to go to the edge of the forest and knock on the tomte´s door.
The kids were at awe. You should have seen them! After recieving a gift each they just sat right down on the ground and started opening them. They were totally convinced they had visited and met tomte at his own house!