Author: Henning Sehmsdorf
Henning Sehmsdorf, formerly a professor at the University of Washington, lives on Lopez Island, Wash., where he has farmed since 1970. He has published articles and books on Scandinavian folklore, including Scandinavian Folk Belief & Legend, 1988; Nordic Folklore: Recent Studies, 1989; All the World’s Reward, 1999; Continuity of Norwegian Tradition in the Pacific Northwest, 2020; and Myth & Tradition in Norwegian Literature & Folklife, 2020.
The Norwegian nisse, most popular during the Christmas season due to the arrival of “julenissen,” has a long history beyond wintertime.