In Sweden, the tradition of elves goes far back in time. In the olden days they believed that elves helped out around the house and the barn, stable etc commonly known as a "house elf", hustomte. Making sure the animals were happy, crops grew and cup boards were full. But in return, it was important to look after the house elf, or else he would get up to mischief. And he could be a very grumpy so and so. One way to stay on the good side of him was to give him rice pudding, tomtegröt on Christmas eve. But you had to make sure to put a big dollop of butter in the middle, because that's the way he liked it.
And the Santa that comes on Christmas eve ( the main day of our Christmas celebration) has his roots in that old tradition. Less Disney and "coca-colafied", if you know what I mean.
The YouTube clip is of a story called "The Tomten" and shows how hustomten is looking after all the animals at the homestead.
And if you want to make some tomtegröt for your "hustomte" this Christmas, or treat the people that you love. This is how you make it:
Tomtegröt 6.port
Add the milk, the cinnamon stick and the salt, and simmer for 3/4 of an hour-1 hour. Stir occasionally.
To make a "de luxe" version add a splash of cream when you add the milk.
The tomtegröt is traditionally eaten with a tablespoon of golden syrup or a sprinkle of cinnamon and sugar ( only hustomten likes butter on his tomtegröt). Some like it with a splash of milk, but I prefer it without. However, a cup of glögg wouldn't go a miss ;-)
Enjoy!
And the Santa that comes on Christmas eve ( the main day of our Christmas celebration) has his roots in that old tradition. Less Disney and "coca-colafied", if you know what I mean.
The YouTube clip is of a story called "The Tomten" and shows how hustomten is looking after all the animals at the homestead.
And if you want to make some tomtegröt for your "hustomte" this Christmas, or treat the people that you love. This is how you make it:
Tomtegröt 6.port
- 3 dl pudding rice
- 5 1/2 dl water
- 1 tablespoon of butter
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 10dl (1 litre) full fat milk
- Cinnamon stick (can be left out, if preferred)
Add the milk, the cinnamon stick and the salt, and simmer for 3/4 of an hour-1 hour. Stir occasionally.
To make a "de luxe" version add a splash of cream when you add the milk.
The tomtegröt is traditionally eaten with a tablespoon of golden syrup or a sprinkle of cinnamon and sugar ( only hustomten likes butter on his tomtegröt). Some like it with a splash of milk, but I prefer it without. However, a cup of glögg wouldn't go a miss ;-)
Enjoy!
