A Danish ‘Nisse’ is a type of Christmas pixie or gnome. Perhaps one might call it Elf on the Shelf Danish styles.
Mysterious, mystical and mischievous, Danish NIsses begin visiting houses all throughout Denmark from the 1st of December. But. Only if you install a Nisse door.
A Danish Nisse do their best to visit every house that builds a Nisse door for them. Sometimes playing tricks such as ripping up a packet of raisins and throwing them around your lounge while you sleep, or even rearranging your furniture. But sometimes they are a bit more well behaved and instead just bring small gifts for the small people in your house..
It’s super simple to build your own Nisse door and invite a Nisse to visit you every day before Christmas. Although some nights they might just be too busy and having toooo much fun at someone elses house that they forget to visit yours…it’s worthwhile warning the small people in your life of this in advance.
3 Steps to hosting a Nisse
1. If you’re based in Denmark, then you’ll be able to buy a Nisse house at the local supermarket (where ‘house’ is a door, ladder and possibly a postbox). Install on an appropriate window ledge. You can also buy a few 'Nisse' accessory items that Nisse may like to leave outside the door in the days to follow. One item appearing each morning . If you don’t live in Denmark, then just make your own Nisse door.
2. Go to sleep……….if you hear noise during the middle of the night. DO NOT GET OUT OF BED. Never distrub a Nisse while they are working their magic.
3. Then every morning in December when you wake up, run at full speed to the Nisse door (being careful not to knock your child over in the rush) and see if the Nisse has come out during the night and left you (or your child) something.
In previous years, our Nisse has left an interesting selection of items including a bowl of rice porridge, a cat (of the stuffed variety), a box of raisins (BBB’s highlight so far), gloves and even a little Kiwi sign.
Nisse is very resourceful.
So if you’re bored (or annoyed) with Advent calendars, then it’s not too late to host a little Nisse house for the month of December 😉
Want more NIsse magic? Then here’s a nice little book called, The Christmas Nisse, which is based on the Danish Nisse.
A small person checking for Nisse magic early one morning in December.