Editing Nisse (folklore) (section)

==As helpers==
According to tradition, the Norwegian{{Refn|name="faye-apud-craigie"|{{harvp|Craigie|1896}}. "{{URL|1=https://books.google.com/books?id=hGsKAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA188 |2=The Nisse [first part}}", pp. 189–190 (from Faye;<ref name="faye-p043"/> cf. p. 434). Already discussed above on Faye and Thorpe tr., that it is implicit the Norwegian ''nisse'' lives in barn since food is brought to him there.}} and Danish ''nisse'' lives the [[barn]]s of the farmstead; in Denmark, it is said the spirit starts out living in the church at first, but can be coaxed into move to one's barn.<ref name="grundtvig-apud-craigie">{{harvp|Craigie|1896}}. "{{URL|1=https://books.google.com/books?id=hGsKAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA189 |2=The Nisse [second part]}}", pp. 189–190 (from Grundtvig; cf. p. 434),cf. {{harvp|Grundtvig|1861}} {{URL|1=https://books.google.com/books?id=fWwAAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA97 |2=[60], 13. Nissen}}, p. 97.</ref> A house-''tomte'' dwelled in every home according to Swedish tradition,<ref name="beveridge2014"/> and it is emphasized the ''tomte'' is attached to the farmstead rather than the family.{{sfnp|Beveridge|2014|p=77}} The ''tomte'' is regarded as dwelling under the [[floorboards]] of houses, stables, or barns.<ref name="mantecabulletin2013"/><ref name="karlsson2009"/>{{Refn|group="lower-alpha"|Though the household protective deity living under the floorboards" belief is claimed to go back to the pagan Viking Age, and in those former times presumably pan-Scandinavian.<ref>{{harvp|Beveridge|2014|p=77}} quoting [[Thomas A. DuBois|Dubois, Thomas]] (1999), ''Nordic Religions in the Viking Age'', p. 51: "some deities dwelled in field and forest, others lived beneath the floorboards of human dwellings".</ref>}}

The ''nisse'' will beneficially serve those he likes or those he regards as friend, doing farm-work or stable chores such as stealing hay from the neighbor (Norwegian){{Refn|name="faye-apud-craigie"}} or stealing grain (Danish).<ref name="grundtvig-apud-craigie"/> The Norwegian ''tusse'' (i.e. ''nisse''<!--as glossed paranthetically by Flatin-->) in a tale had stolen both fodder and food for its beneficiary.{{Refn|name="heavyload"}} Similarly, the ''tomte'', if treated well, will protect the family and animals from evil and misfortune, and may also aid the chores and farm work.<ref name="karlsson2009"/> But it has a short temper, especially when offended,{{Refn|name="scorn"|"vindictive when any one slights or makes game of them.. Ridicule and contempt he cannot endure" (Faye, Thorpe tr.), "Scorn and contempt he cannot stand" (Craigie tr.)<ref name="faye-p043"/>}} and can cause life to be miserable.<ref name="karlsson2009"/> Once insulted, the ''tomte'' will resort to mischief, braiding up the tails of cattle, etc.<ref name="friedman2012">{{cite news|last=Friedman |first=Amy  |author-link=<!--Amy Friedman--> |others=Illustrated by Jillian Gilliland |title=Tell Me a story: The Tomte's New Suit (A Swedish Tale) |newspaper=Go San Angelo Standard-Times |date=7 April 2012 |url=http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2012/apr/07/tell-me-a-story-408/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203023224/http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2012/apr/07/tell-me-a-story-408/ |archive-date=2013-12-03 |access-date=2 December 2013}}</ref> or even kill the cow.<ref name="lindow-no063">Cf. {{harvp|Lindow|1978}} "{{URL|1=https://books.google.com/books?id=MRe6EAAAQBAJ&pg=PA141|2=63. The Missing Butter}}" (Ālvsåker, Halland. IFGH 937:40 ff.), pp. 141–142</ref>

===Harvesting===
[[File:Tomtestealinghay.jpg|thumb|A ''nisse'' stealing hay from a farmer.{{right|―''Nisser med høy''. Watercolor by [[Gudmund Stenersen]] (1863–1934)}}<!--This title given w/o date, accord. no.wikipedia on the artist and auction house, https://bidtoart.com/art/gundmund-stenersen-nisser-med-hoy that misspelt first name-->]]

In one anecdote, two Swedish neighboring farmers owned similar plots of land, the same quality of meadow and woodland, but one living in a red-colored, tarred house with well-kept walls and sturdy [[turf roof]] grew richer by the year, while the other living in a moss-covered house, whose bare walls rotted, and the roof leaked, grew poorer each year. Many would give opinion that the successful man had a tomte in his house.<ref name="afzelius1">{{harvp|Afzelius|1844 |loc='''2''': 189–190}}; {{harvp|Thorpe|1851|loc='''II''': 91–92}}</ref>{{Refn|There is also anecdote localized at [[Brastad]] two farmers harvesting from the same field but the disparity in wealth develops due to one having a tomte.{{sfnp|Schön|1996|p=46}}}} The tomte may be seen heaving just a single straw or ear of corn with great effort, but a man who scoffed at the modest gain lost his tomte and his fortune foundered; a poor novice farmer valued each ear tomte brought, and prospered.<ref name="afzelius1"/><ref name="simpson1994-p174b-straw">Cf. {{harvp|Simpson|1994}} "The Tomte Carries One Straw ", p. 174</ref><ref>Cf. {{harvp|Lindow|1978}} "60. The Tomte Carries a Single Straw" ({{illm|Angerdshestra Parish|sv|Angerdshestra socken}}, Småland), p. 138</ref> A ''tusse'' in a Norwegian tale also reverses all the goods (both fodder and food) he had carried from elsewhere after being laughed at for huffing and heaving just a ear of barley.{{Refn|name="heavyload"|{{harvp|Christiansen|1964}}. "{{URL|1=https://books.google.com/books?id=pSOQci5O1KEC&pg=PA140|2=63. The Heavy Load}}", pp. 139–140; {{harvp|Kvideland|Sehmsdorf|1988}} "{{URL|1=https://books.google.com/books?id=_wTCSv2CGqUC&pg=PA239 |2=48.3 The Heavy Burden}}", pp. 240–241. Bad Lavrans who dwelled at Meås, Seljord who didn't appreciate that a ''tusse'' had been stealing fodder and food from Bakken, and all the goods went back. Bakken does not appear as an actual place names, at leas where it is called ''bakken'' (i. e. "the hill") named "Bøkkerdalen" and the name of the principal human figure is spelt "Lafrantz", and the ''tusse'' (''nisse'') was carrying a large sack of corn when he was derided.<ref name="flatin1940"/><!--This tale seems to bear similarity to the Bäckars vs. Smeds family feud<ref name="allardt1889"/> -->}}

===Animal husbandry===
{{anchors|lundbye_stable}}[[File:Lundby nissen 1842.jpg|thumb|A ''nisse'' in the stable.{{right|―[[Johan Thomas Lundbye]], in ''Flinchs Almanak'' (1842)}}]]

The Norwegian ''nisse'' will gather hay, even stealing from neighbors to benefit the farmer he favors, often causing quarrels. He will also take the hay from the [[manger]] ({{langx|da|krybbe}}) of other horses to feed his favorite. One of his pranks played on the milkmaid is to hold down the hay so firmly the girl is not able to extract it, and abruptly let go so she falls flat on her back; the pleased ''nisse'' then explodes into laughter. Another prank is to set the cows loose.<ref name="faye-p043"/> There is also a Danish tale of the ''nisse'' stealing [[fodder]] for the livestock.<ref name="k&s-48.2-fodder">{{harvp|Kvideland|Sehmsdorf|1988}} "{{URL|1=https://books.google.com/books?id=_wTCSv2CGqUC&pg=PA239 |2=48.2 The ''Nisse'' who Stole Fodder}}", pp. 229–240. The farm in the tale is located at {{illm|Hindø|da}}, [[Ringkjøbing County]], Denmark.</ref>

As the protector of the farm and caretaker of livestock, the ''tomte''{{'}}s retributions for bad practices range from small pranks like a hard strike to the ear<ref name="afzelius2"/> to more severe punishment like killing of livestock.<ref name="lindow-no063"/>

The stable-hand needed to remain punctual and feed the horse (or cattle) both at 4 in the morning and 10 at night, or risk being thrashed by the ''tomte'' upon entering the stable.<ref name="afzelius2">{{harvp|Afzelius|1844|loc='''2''': 190–191}}; {{harvp|Thorpe|1851|loc='''II''': 92–94}}</ref> Belief has it that one could see which horse was the ''tomte''{{'}}s favourite as it will be especially healthy and well taken care of.<ref>Cf. {{harvp|Keightley|1828}} "The Nis and the Mare", pp. 229–230.</ref>{{Refn|Cf. {{harvp|Simpson|1994}} "The Tomte Hates the New Horse", p. 174, "The Tomte's Favourite Cow", p. 173}} 

The phenomenon of various "elves" (by various names) braiding "elflocks" on the [[Mane (horse)|mane]]s of horses is widespread across Europe, but is also attributed to the Norwegian ''nisse'', where it is called the "nisse-plaits" ({{lang|no|{{linktext|nisse|flette}}}}) or "tusse-plaits" ({{lang|no|tusseflette}}), and taken as a good sign of the sprite's presence.<ref name="lecouteux2013"/><ref name="raudvere2021"/> Similar superstition regarding ''tomte'' (or ''nisse'') is known to have been held in the Swedish-American community, with the taboo that the braid must be unraveled with fingers and never cut with scissors.<ref name="sklute1970"/><!--{{cn}}Undoing these braids without permission can mean misfortune or angering the ''tomte''.-->

===Carpentry===
The ''tomte'' is also closely associated with carpentry. It is said that when the carpenters have taken their break from their work for a meal, the ''tomte'' could be seen working on the house with their little axes.<ref name="afzelius2"/> It was also customary in Swedish weddings to have not just the priest but also a carpenter present, and he will work on the newlyweds' abode. Everyone then listens for the noises that the ''tomtegubbe'' helping out with the construction, which is a sign that the new household has been blessed with its presence.<ref name="arndt1857"/>