Nisse-fortellinger kommer tilbake!

En regnfull dag i juli banket postbudet på døren min. Hun hadde med seg en pakke fra Boulder, Colorado. Den inneholdt nissefortellinger i skrift og tegninger. Avsender var Lily Tofteland Hartmann, datter av Tilda Akersmyr Tofteland (1896–1986) fra Lyngdal. Tilda emigrerte til USA på 1900-tallet og lengtet alltid tilbake, noe som kom til uttrykk i tusenvis av brev til familie og venner, samt mange dikt til blant annet lokalavisen Farsunds Avis. En del av hennes produksjon er nå bevart ved Norwegian American Historical Association og Norsk utvandrermuseum. Lily Hartmann har også tegnet og skrevet gjennom mange år, og det er hun som har laget de fleste av disse nissefortellingene.

Vi gir ordet til Lily selv. Hun skriver, på engelsk, noen minner og tanker om denne fargerike samlingen. Lily forteller via epost:

"One hundred years ago, in 1925, Reinert Tofteland and his bride, Tilda Akersmyr, left Stavanger for the nine-day voyage to New York. Then they traveled by train, finally stopping at Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Here relatives drove them by car to Luverne, Minnesota.

It wasn't until they moved into their own farm, in 1926, that the trunks in the attic were maybe emptied. The 1922 Tilda's "Jule Nissen" oil painting and her Nisse decorated "Dresser Scarf" were displayed to be enjoyed! The high humidity sadly warped the salmodikon instrument that Bestefar had made. But it is an antique treasure. 

The Nisse tales were kept alive all through childhood - not Santa Claus! Norwegian Christmas music, hymn, Prayers, tradition, culture, singing, etc. was enjoyed. Christmas was festive with delicious food!

Tilda had a "Kveldsol" room for writing when everyone had gone to bed. I did not see her paint. Her time was filled with work, writing and helping everyone. It was a busy, happy thankful time!

"Norsk Nisse" is the illusive elf with countless friends that are full of adventure in the 38 short stories with numerous original drawings. Having lived in rural, city and mountain areas gave elves much to discover. You have to enjoy unusual happening!

We don't know where they live but we found out, very secretly, that a place called "The Loaf" was special! It would take us 65 scary curves to drive there the Loaf but they're gone in a flash! Gnome too, they love nature, animals loved to do gardening, play golf, bicycle races - anything full of fun!

The 38 stories with numerous drawings hopes to make people feel happy in the Nisse world! Mrs. Nisse has a love of dolls and a book shows her private secretive favorites wearing Bunads! The Folklore Tales tells happy stories of the Magical Norsk Nisse!

Now in 2025, Folklore stories have found their way back to Norway!"

Gjennom Lilys ord får vi et glimt av små magiske fortellinger som har fulgt livet til etterkommere til norskættede utvandrere. Nå har både tekstene og tegningene funnet veien tilbake til Norge, der de bevares i Spesialsamlingen. Slik lever nissefortellingene videre, som en del av vår felles kulturarv.

Videre lesning:

Hartmann, J. (202?) Family art. Jeffreyhartmannmusic. URL: https://www.jeffreyhartmannmusic.com/family-art

Hartmann, L. T. (2013, 25. mai). Et ønske: "Linjer fra mitt liv". Farsunds avis, s. 11

Skreros, M. H. (2011). Tilda Akersmyr Tofteland. Lyngdalsboka, (23), 46-49

Tofteland, T. A (1948). Norge, mitt Norge. Julehilsen fra Lyngdal, 8-9,21