I have spent the day studying the Nordic Tomte vs. Santa Claus (the US) to get a more precise understanding of the differences between them. The Tomte is a small gnome, with pre Christian roots.
The picture shows Santa to the left. He weighs, according to reliable US sources about 242 pounds (about 110 kg) with no clothes on and he is about 6 ft (180 cm) tall in his stocking feet.
The Nordic Tomte weighs about 6.5 kg (15 pounds) and is approximately 55 cm (2 ft.) tall.
Santa mostly eats grilled fat foodstuff and fries and he always drinks Coca Cola.
The Nordic Tomte only eats porridge and vegetarian food + drink milk, kvass or root beer, maybe fresh water.
(From Wikipedia: A tomte, nisse or tomtenisse (Sweden) (Swedish pronunciation: [ˈtɔ̀mːtɛ]), nisse (Norway and Denmark) (Norwegian pronunciation: [ˈněsːɛ] or Danish pronunciation: [ˈnesə], Danish plural nisser) or tonttu (Finland) is a mythological creature from Scandinavian folklore typically associated with the winter solstice and the Christmas season. It is generally described as being no taller than three feet, having a long white beard, and wearing a conical or knit cap in red or some other bright color.[1] It is known as a gift bearer[2] and is considered one of the Swedish and Norwegian versions of Santa Claus, although he is not the same thing.)
The Swedish / Finnish artist Haddon Sundblom created the modern US Santa, the one most everybody today thinks is the original Santa. Well, he is not, he is Sundbloms version created for the Coca-Cola Company, a modern-day concept of Santa as a jolly, plump and hard-working fellow....an all american man. Not at all like the original Saint Nikolaus from Turkey (Lycia)...
A Very Merry Christmas to every digital painter in the whole wide world!
Reply With Quote
