Over Christmas I discovered Findus and the Christmas Tomte, a story in Sven Nordqvist’s picture book series about the old Swedish bachelor farmer Pettson and his remarkable cat in the green striped pants, Findus (author-illustrator shown left).  The Swedish title, Tomtemaskinin [Tomtemachine], is a more accurate and funny precis of the events which unfold after Findus discovers that Christmas Eve the tomte delivers presents to children (his regular job is watching over a home).  Pettson worries that the tomte won’t come because Findus is a cat, not a boy, and decides that the only way to keep him from being disappointed is to build a mechanical tomte.

In chapter one, Findus asks Pettson to tell the tomte about them so he’ll know to visit.  Pettson tries to head Findus off at the pass by saying it’s hard to reach the gnome, especially if he doesn’t want to be found. When Findus won’t give up, Pettson suggests that Findus build a snow lantern and put a list of presents he’d like in the snowball on the very top.  When it’s dark, they will light the candle, let it burn all night, and check in the morning to see if Findus’s snow ball is gone.  No guarantees he’ll come, Pettson warns.  The tomte came..I didn’t quite believe that snow lanterns were real until I found how-to-to-do videos on line…  If you are snowed in on Monday, it might be a good way to pass the time.

A nice flat surface in view of a window, a good pair of gloves, powdery snow, and one or more LED tealights are all you need to build one.  Make a good supply of well-packed snowballs any size you like.  The more you make, the taller the lantern.  Arrange the snowballs apart into a circle, leaving some inches between them.   Now place more rows on top of the foundation, each one a little smaller than the last.  Leave enough room at the top to put your arm in to light the tealights when darkness falls.  Enjoy the wonderful glow.