The Christmas tomten Book

Lessons in Gratitude

Another Rydberg-Viberg collaboration this 3rd Tomten tale was freely adapted from a Swedish translation. Adopted by a kindly widow lady young Vigg awaits her return from Christmas shopping in a distant city. It is cold and lonely in the isolated cottage and Vigg worries that Mother Gertrud will never return. Then he hears curious little bells which announce the arrival of a most surprising visitor:
a friendly little troll who claims to be the Christmas Tomten. Vigg accepts his invitation to accompany him while he delivers gifts in a sleigh drawn by four tiny horses.

Vigg sees a variety of gifts for children and adults, but comes to envy those destined for a young prince. When he gripes that the Tomten doesn't have a gift for Him, he is disappointed at the a lowly pair of hand made stockings. But it is in the Hall of the Mountain King (A Nordic legend of its own) that he learns the meaning of gratitude and the danger of Ingratitude. When he awakens back in his own cottage he wonders: was it all just a dream'a cautionary tale to be grateful for gifts'no matter how humble'which are made and given in love?

December 21, 2015