The word nisse is a pan-Scandinavian term. Its modern usage in Norway into the 19th century is evidenced in Asbjørnsen's collection. The Norwegian tufte is also equated to nisse or tomte. In Danish the form husnisse ("… 展开

The story of propitiating a household deity for boons in Iceland occurs in the "Story of Þorvaldr Koðránsson the Far-Travelled" (Þorvalds þættur víðförla) and the Kristni saga where the 10th century figure attended to his father Koð… 展开

The Norwegian nisse was no bigger than a child, dressed in gray, wearing a red, pointy hat (pikhue = pikkelhue; a hue is a soft brimless hat) according to Faye.
In Denmark also, nisser are often seen as long-bearded, w… 展开

For the various benefits the nisse provided for his host family (which will be elaborated below under § As helpers), the family was expected to reward the sprite usually with porridge (subsection § Porridge-lover below). Even in t… 展开