Julnisse with Porridge circa 1880
There were no depictions of the Scandinavian Jultomten or Julnisse until 1880, when Swedish artist Jenny Nystrom began painting illustrations of them as what looked like miniature versions of Santa. This painting by shows several Julnisse making the traditional Christmas Eve dinner of porridge. In Scandinavian folklore, however, the homeowner must leave a bowl of warm porridge for the Julnisse or Jultomte on Christmas Eve with a pat of butter melting on top or suffer bad luck the during coming year.