In Norwegian Christmas folklore, brooms are traditionally hidden on Christmas Eve to prevent witches from stealing them.
This belief is linked to older Scandinavian folklore about witches and other supernatural beings becoming active during the Christmas season. The broom was imagined as a vehicle that witches could ride, so families hid brooms and sometimes other cleaning tools before going to bed.
The custom belongs to Norway’s older Christmas beliefs rather than its modern religious observances. Contemporary Norwegian celebrations commonly include a Christmas Eve meal, gifts, a decorated tree and visits from Julenissen, the Norwegian Christmas gnome-like Santa figure.
The broom custom is sometimes confused with the broader idea that witches gather at Christmas, but the distinctive Norwegian practice concerns hiding household brooms specifically.