Only Tomten Is Awake

The story of Tomten is a long-established Swedish folktale. His legend pre-dates the modern-day Santa Claus.

Way up in the northern parts of Scandinavia, during the dark, long winter nights, the reading of Viktor Rydberg's "Tomten" has become an annual tradition. It was first published in the magazine "Ny Illustrerad Tidning" in 1881.

Scandinavian children have long heard the tales of Tomten wandering through the farm and into the house--how he comes for his regular visit, looking after the animals and watching over the inhabitants, occasionally stopping to ponder the deeper questions of life.

Every year, children young and old wait with hope and anticipation for that mysterious being who still comes for his annual visit. When "midwinter night's cold is hard" and you are very still and quiet, you might hear him tiptoe through your house, too.

Viktor Rydberg, 1828 - 1895, was a Swedish philosopher, author and poet. A central figure of late Romanticism in Sweden, Rydberg's verse is distinguished for its majestic lyricism and mystery of human existence.

Georgia Stylou lives in the ancient city of Thessaloniki, Greece where she paints water colors illustrating the innocent fantasies of childhood.

Spencer Harden lives in Salt Lake City, Utah with his wife, Anne, a native of Sweden. Together they have four children and celebrate all the wonder and magic of Swedish traditions and folklore.