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The Elf Waltz – More about the Tomtar from Sweden

Tomtar are Like Gnomes and They’re an Important Part of Christmas in Sweden

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The Elf Waltz – More about the Tomtar from Sweden

Wednesday, December 19th, 2007

In my last blog post, I talked about the tomtar – little elf-like creatures in Sweden. The tomtar are nice to people who are nice to them, but they can act mischievously towards people who don’t treat them well.

The song below ends with the tomtar showing up at the door. The question is, are they there to help or hinder?

Here’s the song Tomtevalsen (The Elf Waltz) in Swedish, followed by an English translation and the midi tune.

Tomtevalsen
(Swedish)

Lilla lisa i sitt kök
Rustar till et värre stök.
Suckar bittida och sent
Aldrig får man rent.

Från sitt allra sista golv
Trött honn somnar då

Men när klockan den slår tolv
Knackar tomten på

The Elf Waltz
(English Translation)

Little Lisa sits in the kitchen,
Preparing for a difficult clean-up.
Sighing, early and late,
Never will she clean.

From the back of the room where she sits,
Tired, she dozes off.

But when the clock strikes twelve,
The elves come knocking.

Midi tune of Tomtevalsen

Ed Gawlinski sent me this song. He was the director of a Santa Lucia festival for over 20 years. He told me that this song was sung by the 4 year olds who dressed up as tomtar (elves) for the performance.

Many thanks to Ed for sending me this song and the midi, and to Jason Pomerantz for helping with the translation.

-Mama Lisa

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Posted in Children's Songs, Christmas, Christmas Songs, Countries & Cultures, Folk Lore, Folk Songs, Holiday Songs, Holidays Around the World, Languages, Sweden, Swedish, Swedish Children's Songs, Tomtar | 4 Comments »

Tomtar are Like Gnomes and They’re an Important Part of Christmas in Sweden

Tuesday, December 18th, 2007

In Sweden the tomtar are an important part of Christmas. The tomtar are a kind of tiny, benevolent elf or gnome. There are many holiday songs about them. Here’s one called Tomtarnas Julnatt – The Gnomes’ Christmas Night – in both Swedish and English followed by a YouTube recording of the song.

Tomtarnas Julnatt

Midnatt råder,
tyst det är i husen,
tyst i husen.
Alla sover,
släckta äro ljusen,
äro ljusen.

Tipp, tapp, tipp, tapp, tippetippetipp tapp! Tipp, tipp, tapp.

Se, då krypa
tomtar upp ur vrårna
upp ur vrårna,
lyssna, speja,
trippa fram på tårna,
fram på tårna.

Tipp, tapp, tipp, tapp, tippetippetipp tapp! Tipp, tipp, tapp.

The Gnomes’ Christmas Night

Midnight reigns,
It’s quiet in the houses,
Quiet in the houses.
Everyone sleeps,
The candles are put out,
Candles put out.

Tipp, tapp, tipp, tapp, tippetippetipp tapp! Tipp, tipp, tapp.

Look, there comes
The gnomes out from the corners,
From the corners,
List’ning, watching,
Sneaking on their toes,
On their toes.

Tipp, tapp, tipp, tapp, tippetippetipp tapp! Tipp, tipp, tapp.

“Tipp, tapp, tipp, tapp, tippetippetipp tapp! Tipp, tipp, tapp” is the sound of the tomtar tiptoeing around on their small feet.

Many thanks to “Whendin” for the great video and to Leif Stensson of Project Runeberg for contributing and translating this song!

-Mama Lisa

Come visit the Tomtarnas Julnatt page on Mama Lisa’s World for a longer version of this song and more about the tomtar.

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Posted in Children's Songs, Christmas, Christmas Songs, Countries & Cultures, Folk Lore, Holiday Songs, Holidays Around the World, Languages, Sweden, Swedish, Swedish Children's Songs, The Gnomes' Christmas Night - Tomtarnas Julnatt, Tomtar, Tomtarnas Julnatt - The Gnomes' Christmas Night, YouTube | 1 Comment »

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