‘Tis the season for long white beards, reddened noses, pudgy bellies, and red pointed caps. Here come the Christmas gnomes! But where do these quirky characters come from, how have they become associated with Christmas, and what is our fascination with their distinctive look and charm? Is there a connection with garden gnomes? We explain.

Gnomes have a much longer history than many people realize. While it is only in the past few years that gnomes have become holiday fixtures on mantles and centerpieces, these fun figures have been part of many cultures for centuries.

Gnome Origins

The precise origin of gnomes is shaded in legend and folklore, but various forms of elves, dwarfs, and fairies have been part of mythologies at least since the 1400s in the fjords of Norway, the mountains of Switzerland, and the forests of Germany, all of which are likely origin points for today’s fabled garden or lawn gnomes. In the 1600s, as Europeans expanded their colonization efforts in the Americas, gnomes moved with them, and today we still love these cheerful characters that are typically depicted as short, bearded men wearing outlandishly long, pointy caps.

In different fairy tails and legends, gnomes have long been associated with living underground or moving easily through the earth, often with magical and protective powers to aid nature and make gardens or farms more productive, though some were characterized as more naughty or mischievous. Some legends claim that gnomes are sensitive to sunlight, which will turn them to stone, hence the origin of the garden gnome statuary so popular in lawn and garden decorations today. At night, gnome culture insists the statues come to life to carry out their garden chores, good deeds, or in some cases, naughty tricks.

Garden Gnomes

Sculpted gnomes were first made popular by German artist Philip Griebel, who crafted these unique characters in the mid-1800s. Yet Griebel’s sculptures were not the only early depictions of short, protective figures associated with gardens.

In ancient Rome, small statues of gods were often kept in a garden to offer protection from evil spirits. Especially popular was the figure Priapus, adapted from Greek mythology and the god of fertility and protector of livestock, fruit plants, vineyards, and gardens. Similarly, the Egyptian god Geb was considered to be of short stature, and was god of the earth—though not always depicted in garden statues.

During the Renaissance period, gnomes took on features more associated with grotesques, with petite statures and hunched backs, traits that are still seen in many modern gnome depictions.

Today, garden gnomes may be seen largely as whimsical, decorative figurines, but they can still serve a practical purpose in the garden as life-like figures to deter rodents and other pests. Some gnomes even lend a helping hand by holding a small pot or dish that can become a butterfly waterer, bird feeder, or other accent, or gnomes may be used to mark garden rows, hold plant identifiers, or just add a bit of cheer to any garden patch.

The Christmas Gnome

Right now Christmas and holiday gnomes are growing in popularity. Some say this holiday association is due to their resemblance to Santa Claus, as both cherished figures sport a round belly, long white beard, bulbous nose, and red stocking cap. Holiday gnomes can be found in all sorts of seasonal décor, from simple figurines and dolls to candles, ornaments, gift wrap, cards, and more. Even full-blown gnome-inspired Christmas trees have become popular holiday themes, and quirky gnomes are easy subjects for many DIY craft projects for holiday fun for all ages.

But it isn’t just in appearance that holiday gnomes resemble Santa. Both characters have a good-hearted nature and sense of giving, and in some cultures, small elves that greatly resemble today’s depiction of gnomes are believed to help Santa deliver toys on Christmas Eve.

Even the hilariously popular “Elf on a Shelf” has a pointed cap and a gnome-like personality with hidden antics and nighttime mischievous behavior. Though he lacks the trademark beard, he perhaps depicts a younger version of what will one day grow up to become a lovable garden gnome.

Christmas isn’t the only connection that gnomes have to modern popular culture. For nearly a century, gnomes and gnome-like figures have been a charming part of entertainment, starting with Disney’s “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” in 1937, and continuing with the introduction of the blue-skinned, strikingly gnome-like “Smurfs” in 1958. Gnomes have been part of popular role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons and RuneScape, and gnome-like creatures have featured as different types of characters in the immensely popular Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings franchises.

Garden gnomes have also appeared as prominent plot devices and even principle characters in movies like “Amélie” (2001), “Gnomeo & Juliet” (2011), and “Sherlock Gnomes” (2018), and in various advertising campaigns and social pranks. For instance: the traveling gnome gag that involves “gnome-napping” and documenting a wayward gnome’s unauthorized adventures.

While there is a lot of gnome history that remains a quirky mystery, perhaps that is really why we love gnomes so much – they can be the friends and helpers we want, the naughty influences that make us smile, and the jokesters and pranksters that add even more color to all our days.

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Join The Discussion!

Do you have a Christmas gnome or a garden gnome?

Let us know in the comments below!

Melissa Mayntz is a writer who specializes in birds and birding, though her work spans a wide range—from folklore to healthy living. Her first book, Migration: Exploring the Remarkable Journeys of Birds was published in 2020. Mayntz also writes for National Wildlife Magazine and The Spruce. Find her at MelissaMayntz.com.

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