Welcome to our new holiday tradition, a Christmas book a day!

Today, we had the joy of reading our third book in front of our newly decorated Christmas tree.
Now, we'll see if I get the tree down before Easter this year? (oh, the shame of 2011)

This evening's story is not a Christmas tale, but one of dark, cold winter nights.
The Tomten is based on a poem by Viktor Rydberg, which is based on a figure from Scandinavian folklore said to to care for and protect farms by night. The version is written by Astrid Lindgren (of Pippi Longstocking fame).

In it, the Tomten makes his nightly rounds, unseen by human eyes, to care for and speak to the creatures in the "secret tomten language a cow/horse/cat etc. can understand".  It is very atmospheric, and always gives me a bit of a chill~ a sense of something slightly creepy~ which Rowan also picked up from it tonight, saying the book made her feel scared. 

I don't think it is supposed to be scary, but a quick peek into the folklore does tell of a creature helpful and kind, but easily offended and potentially mailcious.  And we are girls with big imaginations... easily spooked, so don't be turned off by this!  I think we just need to do a little more reading, maybe get hold of the Tomten and the Fox and see if that helps! ♥♥