Garden Gnome in Folklore

As spring nears there is a wild March wind that enjoys whipping the dust and leaves from the winter into our eyes and hair as we scuffle along on our journeys.

In the Northern hemisphere we are fast approaching the spring equinox. Folks are happy to feel the warming air and thawing ice and snow. Gardeners wait in anticipation for the day the earth can be troweled and seeds are planted. Nothing is more satisfying for many people, then slipping into unattractive rubber clogs, with large reptile names such as Crocs or Gators. Feeling our green gloves slide onto our hands and searching through a messy garage or basement to unleash our variety of garden tools. I personally love to garden flowers, annual and perennials and a small organic veggie garden. It makes me feel very Hobbit like. 🙂

One of my favorite wee friends of the garden is the amiable garden gnome who stares out onto the flowers trees and veggies with its tiny grin assuring us our gardens are secure.

Replica of Lampy, Charles Isham’s 1847 terracotta gnome from Germany

 

The garden gnome is known in folklore to bring good luck. These wee gnomes usually are decked out in conical red hats, wearing gray or green clothes standing only 90cm or 35 inches tall. They grow long white beards and were once earth elementals, guardians of plants, trees, mines and gardens. Before ceramic Garden gnomes appeared on the scene after WW2.

The Nisse/Tomte were known for guarding the barn and animals, they brought good luck to the farmers yet at times play tricks on them and steal away hay when needed. They are very similar to the Icelandic Huldufólk that guard the mounds, mines and oversee the land.

Origins of The word Gnome derives form the Latin gnomus, it first appeared in the Liber de Nymphis, Sylvanis, Pygmaeis, Salamandris, et Gigantibus etc. by Paracelsus published in Nysa in 1566 and again in the Johannes Huser edition of 1589-1591.

Folklore cites the Nisse/Tomte would move freely around the gardens at night. Once the sun rose in the sky and kissed them with its warm rays of light, these earth spirits would turn into stone! Hence, the modern day ceramic, stone or plastic Garden gnome that peeks out from under a shady green plant or friendly, colorful flower.

Art: Gnom mit Zeitung und Tabakspfeife English: Gnome with newspaper and tobacco pipe by Heinrich Schlitt de 1923

 

 

Sources & Reference:

German and Scandinavian Legendary Creatures: Elf, Troll, Jörmungandr, Draugr, Myling, Changeling, Wild Man, Huldra, Kraken, by LLC Books 2010. ISBN 1156483298,9781156483299

Lewis, C.S. (1964) The Discarded image – An Introduction to Medieval and Renaissance Literature. Cambridge University Press.  ISBN 0-52147735-2