Gnome

A gnome is a legendary creature characterized by its very small size and subterranean free lifestyle.

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".

Paracelsus includes gnomes in his list of elementals, as earth elementals. He describes them as two spans high, and very taciturn.^[1]

In Folklore

Often featured in Germanic fairy tales, including those by the Brothers Grimm, the gnome often resembles a gnarled old man living deep underground who guards buried treasure. Because of this, Swiss bankers are sometimes disparagingly referred to as the Gnomes of Zürich. Gnomes feature in the legends of many of central, northern and eastern European lands by other names: a kaukis is a Prussian gnome, and barbegazi are gnome-like creatures with big feet in the traditions of France and Switzerland. In Iceland, gnomes (vættir) are so respected that roads are re-routed around areas said to be inhabited by them. Some confusion arises as the gnome is one of many similar but subtly different creatures in European folklore; mythical creatures such as goblins and dwarves are often represented as gnomes, and vice versa.

Individual gnomes are not very often detailed or featured as characters in stories, but in Germanic folklore, Rübezahl, the lord over the underworld, was sometimes referred to as a mountain gnome. According to some traditions, the gnome king is called Gob. Wolfmother, an Australian Rock band, included a song by the name of "Tales From The Forest Of Gnomes" in their first album.

Names of gnomes in different parts in Europe

These are the names by which gnomes are commonly designated in different parts of Europe:

Ireland — Goblin
Belgium — Gnome, Kabouter
Germany — Gartenzwerg or Gnom
Norway — Tomte or Nisse
Denmark — Nisse
Italy — Gnomo
Greece - Gnomos, Gnomiko
Poland — Krasnoludek, Skrzat
Finland — Maahinen or menninkäinen
Russia — Гном (Gnom)
Serbia — Kepec, patuljak, gnom
Sweden — Tomtenisse,hustomte or tomte
Bulgaria — Djudje
Czech — Skřítek
Slovakia - Skriatok
Hungary — Mano
England - Gnome or Hob
Iceland - Álfur or dvergur
Spain - Gnomo, duende
Malta - Nanu

Modern usage

Fantasy authors will sometimes employ gnomes, as elementals, in their fiction.^[2]

Particularly noteworthy is the phonetically spelled Nome King of the Oz books. Although the Wicked Witch of the West is the most famous of Oz's villains (thanks to the popular 1939 film The Wizard of Oz), the Nome King is the closest the book series has to a main antagonist. He appears again and again to cause trouble for the Land of Oz.

In the MMORPG World of Warcraft, Gnomes are a playable race, though with relatively limited class choices. Cheery in temperament, they are portrayed as atheistic, highly intelligent, and technologically predisposed.^[3]

Garden gnomes

File:P1000744.jpg

Typical German garden gnome

The first garden gnomes were made in the town of Gräfenroda in Thuringia, Germany in the mid-1800s by Phillip Griebel. Griebel made terracotta animals as decorations and created the gnome based on local myths as a way for people to enjoy the stories of the gnomes' willingness to help in the garden at night. The garden gnome quickly spread across Germany and into France and England, and wherever gardening was a serious hobby. Gnome manufacture spread across Germany with numerous other large and small manufacturers coming into and out of the business, each one having its own particular style of design. World War II was hard on the industry and most producers gave up then. Griebel's descendants still make them and are the last of the German producers, all others having moved production to Poland or China.

Traditional gnomes are made from a terracotta clay slurry poured into molds. The gnome is removed from the mold, allowed to dry, and then fired in a kiln until it is hard. Once cooled the gnome is painted to the level of detail desired and sent to stores to be sold to consumers. More modern gnomes are made from resins and similar materials.

Garden gnomes were first introduced to the United Kingdom in 1847 by Sir Charles Isham, when he brought 21 terracotta figures back from a trip to Germany and placed them as ornaments in the gardens of his home, Lamport Hall in Northamptonshire. Only one of the original batch of gnomes survives: Lampy, as he is known, is on display at Lamport Hall, and is insured for one million pounds.^{[citation needed]}

Garden gnomes have become a popular accessory in many gardens. They are often the target of pranks: people have been known to return garden gnomes "to the wild", most notably France's "Front de Liberation des Nains de Jardins" and Italy's "MALAG" (Garden Gnome Liberation Front). Some kidnapped garden gnomes have been sent on trips around the world (the travelling gnome prank; this later became the basis for Travelocity's "Roaming Gnome").

The practice of stealing garden gnomes is also sometimes referred to as "Gnome Hunting".

Gnomes are often depicted as having beards and are typically males, and usually wear red hats. They are made in various poses and pursuing various pastimes, such as fishing or napping.^{[citation needed]}

Gnomes have become controversial in serious gardening circles in the UK, and are banned from the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show as the organisers claim that they detract from the garden designs. Gnome enthusiasts accuse the organisers of snobbery because they are popular in working class and suburban gardens.

Something else truly wonderful about gnomes is the fact that they own everyone else on the hit new game: World of Warcraft. Gnomes come with the selectable classes: Warrior, Rogue, Warlock and Mage. All are equally pwnage and are recommended over their tall and slightly obese companions. Be a gnome today, and trip a night elf tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GNOMES RULE!

FOR GNOMEREGAN!

Notes

^ C.S. Lewis, The Discarded Image, p135 ISBN 0-521-47735-2
^ John Grant and John Clute, The Encyclopedia of Fantasy, "Elemental" p 313-4, ISBN 0-312-19869-8
^ World of Warcraft website (May 2007), http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/races/gnomes.html.

References

Lewis, C. S. The Discarded Image. ISBN 0-512-47735-2. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: checksum (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)

External links

History of garden gnomes with pictures showing how they are made

[1] C.S. Lewis, The Discarded Image, p135 ISBN 0-521-47735-2

[2] John Grant and John Clute, The Encyclopedia of Fantasy, "Elemental" p 313-4, ISBN 0-312-19869-8

[3] World of Warcraft website (May 2007), http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/races/gnomes.html.

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