Introduction
The garden gnome is the most popular garden ornament in the world. But did you know that they have been around since the mid-1800s? Or that they were originally designed to depict dwarfism? Or that there’s a worldwide association of garden gnomes? The more you learn about these cute little guys, the more interesting they become. So let’s dive right into it!
Gnomes depict dwarfism.
Most people have heard of gnomes, but may not know quite what they are. Gnomes are a specific type of humanoid that has been illustrated and popularized in human culture since the 19th century, and they’re usually depicted as having small bodies and large heads.
Gnomes depict dwarfism; however, unlike real people with dwarfism who suffer from genetic disorders that cause their growth to be stunted (such as achondroplasia), gnomes are fictional characters created by humans for entertainment purposes. Because of this distinction between reality and fiction, some argue that gnomes should not be considered offensive when compared with other types of discrimination based on body size or race:
It’s important for us to remember that these aren’t real people—they’re just mythical creatures whose size has been exaggerated as part of folklore!
Garden gnomes are always male.
Every garden gnome you’ve ever seen is male. This is because garden gnomes are not real. They are fictional characters, created to represent the things we want in our lives: beauty, harmony and peace. A garden gnome represents prosperity and idealism in a way that’s easy for humans to understand—they’re happy little men with pointy hats who behave exactly as we would expect them to behave if they were real!
So there you have it: garden gnomes are always male because they aren’t real—and that’s why it’s so important to treat them with respect!
Garden gnomes were first given as gifts to housewives.
The garden gnome was first given as a gift to housewives in the 1960s. The garden gnome was first given as a gift to housewives in the 1970s.
The garden gnome look is based on a real person.
In 1844, a Bavarian soldier named Hans Trapp was forced to retire due to illness. But his life didn’t end there. Instead, he became a gardener and created some of the most beautiful gardens in Europe. His works were known as “Gnomenstube”, or “gnome rooms”. They were made up of small houses and gardens that depicted scenes from fairy tales such as The Sleeping Beauty and Snow White.
The gnomes themselves are based on actual people who lived in these little houses: they were actually the children or grandchildren of gardeners who worked for Trapp.
Garden gnomes are banned in some places.
Gnomes are banned in some places.
In fact, there is a list of places where the sale and ownership of garden gnomes are prohibited. The reason for this prohibition is that garden gnomes are considered to be a threat to public safety, particularly because they are small and hard to see (and hear).
Here’s what Wikipedia says about it:
There is a garden gnome university.
The Gnome University is a museum in Holland, named after its home country. The university was founded in 1989 and has been an active part of the community ever since. It’s located in Leidschendam-Voorburg, a town near the center of The Netherlands that has about 50,000 residents.
The Gnome University includes over 5,000 different garden ornaments from all over Europe, including Germany and other countries. The university also serves as a tourist destination for those interested in learning more about these popular pieces of art. Visitors can walk through rooms dedicated to different kinds of gnomes—like one with just female gnomes—or take photos with them against specially designed backgrounds like “Gnome Forest” or “Garden Party” (you know you saw those on Instagram!). Special events are held throughout the year at this museum; even if you don’t live nearby there’s still plenty to see inside its walls.*
A garden gnome was once valued at $1 million dollars.
A garden gnome was once valued at $1 million dollars.
In 1991, a garden gnome was stolen from a garden in Germany. The thief managed to get away with it and the value of the garden gnome increased dramatically. However, the owner of the garden never received any money for their now-famous item and police haven’t been able to find who stole it or why they did so.
There’s a worldwide association of garden gnomes.
As you might expect, you won’t find the International Garden Gnome Association (IGGA) in the phone book or on Google Maps. But the association is real and thriving. Founded in 1979, it now boasts more than 300 members from around the world. Its mission is to promote “the garden gnome as an important part of our heritage.”
Let’s take a look at some things you’ll find on IGGA’s website:
- An overview of what garden gnomes are
- A guide for new members
- A directory of member cities
In the ’70s, Germany had a garden gnome shortage.
In the ’70s, Germany had a garden gnome shortage.
This was due to the fact that garden gnomes were being stolen and sold to tourists as souvenirs.
Garden gnomes were not always jolly little fellows.
If you’re like me, you probably have fond memories of a garden gnome that belonged to someone in your childhood.
When I was young, my mother had a few of these funny little guys scattered around the yard. They were old and worn but they looked so happy! My siblings and I would often play with them; we would place them in various poses and invent stories about what they were doing together. We imagined that these patina-covered creatures were friends or family who had been built by some sort of master craftsman – maybe even Santa himself? Their faces showed no fear or anger; instead their expressions seemed to say: “We know something you don’t know.”
This all changed when I was thirteen years old. That summer, my grandmother’s neighbors invited us over for dinner one evening after church services ended nearby at our local parish (which also served as our town library). She mentioned how nice it would be if I could bring along some treats from home since there weren’t any snacks available at their house due to an ongoing renovation project underway there at the time – lots of sawdust everywhere! As soon as she said this though I knew exactly what kind of treat would go perfect with those green beans: some homemade cookies made using leftover frosting from birthday cakes baked earlier in summertime celebrations (and topped off with sprinkles!)
There’s a lot more to learn about garden gnomes than you’d ever imagined!
If you’re a garden gnome fan, you’re probably already familiar with the standard facts about these odd little creatures. For example: they’re usually made of ceramic, are often bearded and wear hats or caps, and have their own language that only they can understand. They also have a tendency to be mischievous and cause mischief when they get bored (which happens more often than you’d think).
But dig deeper into gnome culture and you may just learn something new. There’s much more to discover about these cute little guys!
Conclusion
There’s a lot more to learn about garden gnomes than you’d ever imagined!