About Gnomes and their History
What is a Gnome?
A gnome is a legendary creature characterized by its very small size and subterranean lifestyle. According to the alchemist Paracelsus, gnomes are the most important of the elemental spirits of the classical element of earth; they move as easily through the earth as humans walk upon it, have conical hats, and the sun's rays turn them into stone. Some sources claim they spend the daytime as toads instead of in stone and they are also said to have magical powers that make people feel sad or happy.
The international family of garden gnomes dates back to the era when the form of the globe consolidated out of Chaos, and the forces responsible for precious and base metals and precious stones implanted them beneath the surface of the earth. Unlike men, gnomes learn from the past and they also have the ability to predict and learn from the future.
Garden gnomes are about 8 - 24 inches tall and formed in proportion. They resemble the original people of their host country, so that a Beijing gnome is Chinese in appearance, a Hairy Peruvian gnome resembles a native of Peru, and so on. Apart from their small size, a notable difference between gnomes and humans is their expression of ageless good humor. Garden gnomes lack the human facility for worrying, practice therapeutic festivity, and consequently live for several hundred years.
The diet of garden gnomes is largely vegetarian, basically cereals and root vegetables, although they consume great quantities of chutney and sausages during their festivities. They brew excellent ale but use it in moderation except in some festivals. Garden gnomes pioneered many crafts, such as weaving and woodworking, but they have not felt disposed to explore more complex technologies. They live in simple comfort and avoid the problems of industrialization.
Their original duty was that of supervising and surveying the mineral treasures of the earth. Each group of family looked after a lode of copper, a vein of gold, a pipe of diamonds, a seam of coal, or some similar resource implanted underground. Each garden gnome colony lived underground, close to their particular area of responsibility. To facilitate their work they developed the ability to move or "swim" through the earth.
As men delved deeper into the earth, countless garden gnomes found themselves displaced. Clumsy miners wrecked entire colonies and the roar of explosions made life unbearable. Some garden gnomes turned against the miners, and began a kind of guerrilla warfare by pulling away pit props, diverting underground streams into admits, and other contrivances. But the majority decided to emigrate to the surface and begins new existence in the light of day.
The first surface garden gnomes (unkindly known as 'superficial gnomes' by the underground brethren) emerged into the forests of britain and Europe at about the time of King Arthur. They found the dimness of the huge forests compatible with their underground nature, and established colonies in the root systems of great trees.
As time passed, their benign character tempted them to aid in human affairs. The little milkmaid weary of her task would find all the milk pails filled before she rose in the morning, the sleeping shepherd awoke to find his flock had been rounded up for him, and many a poor tailor or shoemaker prospered when garden gnomes families worked night shifts in their workshops.
Humans often glimpsed the garden gnomes but never succeeded in capturing one. Eventually humans simply accepted their presence and knew that gnomes would not harm them.
Garden gnome lifestyles changed yet again when humans felled the forests just as they had looted the earth. Garden gnomes had to retreat further and further away from the homes of men, and they are now seen only in the few remaining forests of Britain and europe. In other parts of the world, garden gnomes have adapted themselves in various ways. Some still try to assist humans by importing some of their own gift of understanding. A few have turned mischievous, like either cousins the gremlins, and they torment humans with minor but irritating activities. other garden gnome families, like the Leprignomes of Ireland and the Hairy Peruvians of South Australia, have travelled as far as Australia in search of a new life.
The word gnome is derived from the New Latin gnomus. It is often claimed to descend from the Greek gnosis, "knowledge", but more likely comes from genomos "earth-dweller".
How to Spot a Gnome...
With a few hints on gnome appearance, you'll be able to spot a gnome with ease:
- approximately weight of 30 pounds
- dressed in earthy clothes and sturdy boots
- fondness for eating vegetables and drinking homemade brews
- rigid facial expressions
Gnome Facts...
- Are mainly vegetarians
- Gnomes think of marriage at about age 200 years
- Gnome women deck themselves out with blossoms or berry-bearing twigs for the celebrations
- Greetings, farewells and goodnights are expressed by rubbing noses.
- Gnomes are 7 times as strong as a man.
- Urine can be contained for a whole day
- Brain capacity larger than man’s.
- Hair grays very early, baldness unknown.
- Life-span is around 375-400 years.
- Love to dance (usually a rather offbeat jig of sorts)
- Fingertips as sensitive as those of a blind person.
- Fingerprints are mainly of a circular pattern.
- Heart attacks unknown.
- they are capable of smelling 19 times better than man.
- they have a great sense of direction (as good as a homing pigeon)
- they have ESP...(nonverbal communication over great distances)
- they can forecast weather
- they visit their birthday tree yearly...often live under it
- the birth of gnomes is always twins
- Gnomes love to dance and find occasions to celebrate.
The Travelling (Roaming) Gnome Prank
The travelling gnome prank is a popular method of returning a garden gnome "to the wild". It involves taking a gnome from someone, taking it on a trip around the world (usually passing it from person to person), and photographing it at famous landmarks, with the photos being returned to the owner. Sometimes the gnome returns with a wife and children.
The tradition was first recorded in Australia in the 1980s. Although not definitive, the following blurb appeared in the Regular Shorts feature of the Sydney Morning Herald of September 24, 1986: 'AN EASTERN suburbs gnome-owner was distressed when she discovered her gnome had been stolen at the weekend. A note was found in its place: "Dear mum, couldn't stand the solitude any longer. Gone off to see the world. Don't be worried, I'll be back soon. Love Bilbo xxx."'
It was popularised by several films, including the 2001 movie Amélie, where it was featured as a subplot. In 2004 it was featured in the viral marketing campaign "Where is my Gnome?" used by online travel agency Travelocity.
There are many clubs and organizations dedicated to the prank; the best-known of these is the Garden Gnome Liberation Front.