A tomte, nisse or tomtenisse (Sweden) , nisse (Norway and Denmark) ( or , Danish plural nisser) or tonttu (Finland) is a mythological creature from Scandinavian folklore typically associated with the winter solstice and the Christmas season. It is generally described as being no taller than three feet, having a long white beard, and wearing a conical or knit cap in red or some other bright color. It is known as a gift bearer and is considered one of the Swedish and Norwegian versions of Santa Claus, although not the same thing.