In Finland, children love Santa’s little helpers: the tonttus. For decades, stories have been told in the country about these Christmas elves who sneak through the snow in winter to secretly do good deeds for people.
Once upon a time, there was a Tonttu named Väinö. He wore a red cap that reached almost to his nose, a little gray coat, and carried a lantern that lit his way through the dark winter. Just like all Tonttus, this Christmas elf loved the run-up to Christmas. That’s because during this time of year, he could secretly bring little joys to people. Väinö’s job was to protect the children and animals and to make sure that everything was truly ready for Christmas.
On a cold December evening, Väinö crept through a small village. A thick layer of snow lay on the roofs, and only a few lights were on. Most of the children were already asleep; everything was quiet and peaceful. But Väinö knew that in one of the houses there was a little boy who was sick in bed. Kalle had caught a cold and couldn’t go outside to play in the snow with his friends. That made Väinö sad. So he decided to do something to make the child happy.
He crept into the barn and looked for some straw. He used it to build a little nest in front of Kalle’s window. The little Tonttu then looked for some tiny pinecones and a few tasty berries, which he carefully placed in the nest. Finally, he conjured up a little bell that tinkled softly as he slipped away.
The next morning, Kalle woke up and discovered the little surprise on the windowsill. He was overjoyed and immediately felt better. “Mom, Mom, look! The Christmas dwarf brought me a present!” Kalle exclaimed excitedly. His mother smiled. “The Tonttus always take such good care of us. We’re so lucky to have them.”
And so the legend of the tonttu lives on in Finland to this day. Children firmly believe that during the run-up to Christmas, these little Christmas elves are out and about, spreading joy and protecting homes. If you look closely, you might spot a little bell that a Tonttu left behind. Or perhaps you’ll discover tiny footprints in the snow—a sign that one of these little helpers has spread a little Christmas magic.
Image credit: ViolkaArt on Pixabay
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