Is Elves on Netflix based on Scandinavia’s Nisse legend?

The Danish title of Netflix’s new series Elves is Nisser, which caught my eye because I wondered if that was the same thing as a nisse. Was “nisser” the plural form of it?

Nisse was one of the legends I examined in “Beyond Krampus: Four Other Creepy Christmas Traditions from Around the World.”

In that post, I wrote: “I’m wondering what kind of tricks he plays? And when Hollywood or a good horror author will get wind of this and create a spooky tale about Nisse…”

Well, Hollywood didn’t produce it, but instead Elves is a new Danish Netflix original series from the creators of The Rain. And it does venture down the spooky path…out into spooky woods!

Let’s first talk about the nisse legend and then what the Netflix series is about.

What is a nisse?

Nisses are small mythological creatures kind of like elves who are most often found on farms where they live in barns as protectors of the animals. They’re often described as wearing tall pointed cone-shaped red hats, similar to gnomes. Some descriptions give them beards and others don’t.

The Danish and Norwegians call them “nisse,” but they’re called other names depending on what Scandinavian country you’re in. For instance, the Swedish call them “tomte,” and in Finland they’re known as “tomtenisse” or “tonttu.”

Regardless of the country, they’re representative of the Christmas season —and to a large extent the Christmas spirit. Except instead of helping Santa make toys, they help farmers care for their animals year-round—as long as the farmer cares for them, that is.

So how does one care for a nisse? Well, they don’t like lazy or careless farmers and they thrive on tradition. So not messing up the routine and being good to the animals keep nisses happy.

And you don’t want to make a nisse angry because their retribution can range from relatively harmless pranks to physical assaults.

They also require offerings from time to time. It’s very common to leave them a Christmas Eve offering of porridge and beer.

Elves on Netflix Storyline

Here’s Netflix’s official description of Elves:

A Christmas vacation turns into a nightmare for a teenager and her family when they discover an ancient menace that stalks their island getaway.

Basically, Josefine (Sonja Steen) finds herself on the remote (fictional) island of Årmandsø with her mom, dad, and older brother for Christmas. When their car exits the ferry, they’re told to stay on the coastal road, but do they? Of course not!

The dad sees a way that’s shorter, so he takes it. During the drive that’s on the road they’re not supposed to be on, he turns around to yell at Jose and her brother to stop fighting. They hit something, but what? They don’t know, but Jose takes it upon herself to go back and see if she can find out later. That’s when she discovers a little nisse they come to call Kee-Ko, which Decider aptly described as “a cross between an oversized Troll doll and Guardians of the Galaxy’s Groot.”

A mysterious fence, cows being sacrificed, creepy townsfolk…Elves has all the ingredients for a spooky Christmas treat. In case you’re not in the mood for the sweet stuff that’s more common at this time of year.

Elves on Netflix Trailer

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Do you ever leave anything out for mythological creatures on Christmas Eve…just in case they’re real? If so, what kind of creature and what do you offer them?

Maybe that’s what I’ve been doing wrong all these years. I always long for an elf to help me around the house, but what do I do to entice them? Nothing. Maybe if I start leaving offerings of some sort they’ll feel more appreciated and inclined to lend a hand?

Courtney Mroch

Courtney Mroch is a globe-trotting restless spirit who’s both possessed by wanderlust and the spirit of adventure, as well as obsessed with true crime, horror, the paranormal, and weird days. Perhaps it has something to do with her genes? She is related to occult royalty, after all. Marie Laveau, the famous Voodoo practitioner of New Orleans, is one of her ancestors. That could also explain her infatuation with skeletons.

Speaking of healing, to learn how she channeled her battle with cancer to conjure up this site, check out HJ’s Origin Story.