THE

FASCINATING
FACTS OF
GNOMES
By

DR. GEORGE FELFOLDI

(c) 2021
THE FASCINATING
FACTS OF GNOMES

By
Dr. George Felfoldi
© 2021, George F. Felfoldi
THE FASCINATING
FACTS OF GNOMES
COPYRIGHT INFORMATION
© 2021, Dr. George Felfoldi

Please feel free to distribute this e-Book,

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ALL OTHER COPYRIGHTS THAT ARE
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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page
Copyright Information
Table Of Content
. A Short History Of Gnomes
. The Word “Gnome”
. Garden Gnomes From Old Rome To Now
. Garden Gnome Debate
. Celebrating Garden Gnomes
. What Is It “A Gnome”?
. Other Names Used
. A “Brownie” Or “Broonie”
. Origin Of Brownies
. In Scottish And Irish Tradition
. In My Garden Poem
 . Regional Variants
. Classification Of Brownies
. Brownies Outside Of Folklore
. Garden Gnomes Is More Compelling
. Legendary Creatures Throughout Europe
. Photo Gallery Collection
Dedication
Special Thanks
About The Author
Other Books By The Author
 DEDICATION
I would like to dedicate this e-Book
To my wife and family
And also to all my readers
And friends.

THIS BOOK IS TO YOU ALL.

 SPECIAL THANKS
I would like to thank all the people,
Companies, Organizations,
Family and friends that made
This e-Book possible.

The Toronto Public Library

Carrie Cabral
Sarah White
Google.Org
B.A. Hall
April V. Boniface
Wikipedia.Org
Erno Yeno Felfoldi
Ernest Gaza Felfoldi
Free Photos (InterNet)
 GettyImages
New World Encyclopedia
 ABOUT THE AUTHOR

George F. Felfoldi

Dr. George Felfoldi is an Independent

Baptist Minister, An Author, Song writer
And Musician who is a native to
Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
George holds several doctors degrees in
Various fields and has written several books,
On different subjects such as:
Occult, Health, Religion, Herbals,
Ships, and also Poetry and Lyrics.
George is also married and
Has four grown children
living in Toronto, Ontario.
 OTHER BOOKS BY
THE AUTHOR
2006

Katoomba - Columbia
The Powers of Garlic
Speaking to God Through Prayers
Ginger the Herb and Root Guide
The Complete Book On Angels
Chamomile The Healing Herb
The Healing Powers of Aloe Vera
The Healing Powers of Cranberry
The Healing Powers Of Seaweed And Algae
The Spiritual Key To Healing
The Healing Powers of Pomegranate

2007

The Healing Powers Of Blueberries

AMD – Age-Related Macular Degeneration
A Modern Look At Solar Power
The Healing Powers of Oregano
The Healing Powers of Coconuts
The Book of Spells :White Magic Vs. Black Magic
The Healing Powers of Cherries
Experimenting With the G-Spot
Sex Magic
The Images of God
The Healing Powers of Thistles
The Felfoldi’s :Medical Herbal Encyclopedia
The Complete Book on Herbal Magick
The Herbs And the Animals of the Bible
The Road To Better Health
The Gnomes In Mythology
The Magic of Having Great Sex
The Healing Powers of Strawberries
The Backyard Terror :Squirrels
Changing The Way We Look At Wolves
Cooking With Eggs Cookbook
The Healing Powers Of Watermelons

2008
The Healing Powers of Mangos
The Complete Book On Angels (Second Edition)
The State of Man (In Relationship To The Bible)
The Healing Powers of Tomatoes
The Schooner, Bluenose II
The Healing Powers of Mushrooms
A Modern Look At Parapsychology
Angel Light Bible Studies (A complete 22 lesson course)
Peach Popourri (A book on Peaches)
Hypnosis For Self Betterment And Healing
The Down To Earth Cookbook
The Science of Faith and Other God’s Sciences
World Wide Ghosts & Hauntings
The Modern Look At Poetry

2009
The Science of Mind Transformation
A New Look at Scheurmann’s Disease
Loch Ness Mystery
In Search of Mysterious Primates
The Healing Powers of Pineapples
The Healing Powers of Limes
The Scottish-Hungarian Cookbook
Cooking With Friends Cookbook
Spirit Orbs Photography
The Secret of Healthy Living
The Healing Powers of Mr. Garlic
The Complete Book On Herbal Magick (2nd. Edition)
Spellcasting :White & Black Magic
The Healing Powers of Kiwi Fruit
A World Of Food Cookbook
A Psychic Connection To 2012
Paranormal Phenomenon :Levitation
Aliens Are Among Us

2010

The Devil And His Demons :Activities, Facts & Evidence

2012

Bed Bugs In The Woodwork

The Cockroach Invasion
The Basics of the Chinese Zodiac
Focusing the Mind, The Inner Universe
The Healing Properties of Honey

2014

The Toe Nail Fungus Book

The Healing Powers of Peppermint
The Healing Powers of Dandelion
The Healing Powers of Cloves

2015

The New Age Cookbook

From My Table Cookbook
Tranquility Of Mind :Modern Lyrics And Poetry

2017

Kimberley's Famous Recipes

2018

Do Not Stop Cooking

Angels Of The Light
The Angels Connection
Hamster's Simplified
My Scottish Fold Long-Haired Cat (Miss Kitty)
Great Foods Made Easy
The Healing Powers Of Black Pepper
The Healing Powers Of Coffee
The Healing Powers Of Turmeric
The Healing Powers Of Water
Arthritis Simplified
An Invisible Wall In Nature
Bedbugs Simplified

2019

Farmer's Wife Olde And New Tyme Recipes

2021

Cooking Through A Pandemic

Healing Properties Of Garlic
Healing Properties Of Corn
Healing Properties Of Bananas
The Fascinating Facts Of Gnomes
 A SHORT HISTORY OF GNOMES

A Gnome Reading A Book.

The history of gnomes being used in gardens around the world

is longer than you might think. The tradition originated in the
1800s, and those original garden gnomes are far different than
the plastic or plaster gnomes, that we are use to today.

The first known garden gnomes were produced in Germany

in the early 1800s. They were originally made out of clay.
Gnomes first appeared in gardens in England in the 1940s, and
from there their popularity began to take off.

The first garden gnomes were mass produced also came from
Germany in the 1870s. The two big names in gnome
manufacturing were Philipp Griebel and August Heissner, with
Heissner becoming known around the world, as “The gnome
King”, for his gnome creations.

Unfortunately, the world wars wiped out most garden gnome

production in Germany, and beginning in the 1960s, the
plastic gnomes we know today came on the scene. These
gnomes are campy and cartoonish, and many people don't
like them because of their appearance.

In the 1980s, companies in the Czech Republic and Poland

started to make gnomes and flooded the market with cheaper
imitations of the German products.
The American company, Kimmel Gnomes, is one of the few
manufacturers of clay and resin gnomes that are finished by
hand and not mass produced. People who want a gnome with
some soul seek out these, which come in a variety of sizes and
different poses.

WHY GNOMES:

The Three Gnomes.

The history of gnomes also passes along the folklore and why
you would want one of them in your garden. Gnomes are
known as symbols of good luck.
Originally, gnomes were thought to provide protection,
especially of buried treasure and minerals in the ground. They
are still used today to watch over the crops and livestock,
often tucked into the rafters of a barn or placed in the garden.

A garden gnome adds a bit of whimsy and a connection to the

old world, where the farmers believed the good luck charm
could help their fields yield more produce and protect them
from thieves, pests and other problems. They were also
thought to help gardeners in the night, which we all could use.

GNOMES IN FOLKLORE:

The mythical gnomes in history were thought to live

underground, and their name is thought to derive from a Latin
word for “earth dweller”. They were popular in German fairy
tales and were often described as “old men”, who guarded
treasure.

However, gnomes or similar creatures were also found in

folklore from many different countries, where they went by
different names such as, “Nisse” in Denmark and Norway,
“Duende”, in Spain and, “Hob”, in England.

THE LOOK OF GNOMES:

Wow .... We Are Gnomes.

The different types of gnomes were not described thoroughly

in the stories that were told, but garden gnomes produced
throughout the world do have the same general look, usually
with a long, white or grey beard, a red hat and simple clothes.
The female gnomes tend to have long hair, the same hat and a
simple dress, and look somewhat like a witch.

A female gnome in the fields.

These days gnomes can be found in all sorts of different

costumes and configurations, adding to the distaste that is felt
by many people who don't like these creatures. There are
gnomes with kegs of beer, (the one that my daughter likes),
with built in solar lights, skiing gnomes, gnomes taking baths,
gnomes that are sleeping on swings, (the kind that my wife
likes), and gnomes mooning onlookers.
IF BUYING A GARDEN GNOME:

There are many different sources for mass produced garden

gnomes, but there are far few opportunities for finding high
quality, handmade gnomes.

Here below are a few places that you can try to look for your
perfect garden protector:

. Clear Air Gardening – has a good basic selection of gnomes.

. Garden Gnomes Need Homes – they have gnomes that are
slightly higher quality.
. Gnome Town USA – they have gnomes in various different
sizes.
. Zwergli Gnomes – has handmade German gnomes.

No matter where you shop for your garden gnomes, know

that you are following a rich history of people who have used
gnomes for decoration, protection and to bring a bit of
whimsy into the garden.

Irish Gnome named “Patrick”.

 THE WORD “GNOME”

Wow .... It's Me.

A gnome /noom/ - is a mythological creature and diminutive

spirit in Renaissance magic and alchemy, first it was
introduced by Paracelsus in the 16th. Century and later
adapted by more recent authors including those of modern
fantasy literature.

Its characteristics have been reinterpreted to suit the needs of

various story tellers, but it is typically said to be a small
humanoid that lives underground.
 IN HISTORY

“An English gnome with newspaper and

tobacco pipe”, by Heinrich Schlitt (1923).

Origins:

The word comes from Renaissance Latin “gnomus”, which first

appeared in a book called, “A Book On Nymphs, Sylphs,
Pygmies, and Salamanders, and on the Other Spirits” by
Paracelsus, that was published in 1566, (and again in the
Johannes Huser edition of 1589-1591 from an autograph by
Paracelsus.

The term may be an original invention of Paracelsus, who

possibly deriving the term from Latin “genomos” (itself
representing in Greek “earth dweller”).

Paracelsus used Gnomi as an synonym of Pygmaei and

classifies them as earth elements. He describes them as two
spans high, very reluctant to interact with humans,and are
able to move through solid earth as easily as humans move
through air.

The chthonic, or earth dwelling spirit has precedents in

numerous ancient and medieval mythologies, often guarding
mines and precious underground treasures, notably in the
Germanic dwarfs and the Greek Chalybes, Telchines or
Dactyls.
 “A gnome guarding a mine and watching a
railway train” by Carl Spitzweg, (1848).

IN ROMANTICISM AND MODERN FAIRY TALES:

The English word is attested from the early 18 th century,

Gnomes are used in Alexander Pope's “The Rape Of the Lock”.
The creature from this epic are small, celestial creatures which
were prudish women in their past lives, and now they spend
all of eternity looking out for prudish women, “in Parallel to
the guardian angels in Catholic belief”.
Other uses of the term “gnome”, remain obscure until the
early 19th century, when it is taken up by authors of
Romantistic collections of fairy tales and becomes mostly
synonymous with the older word “goblin”.

Pope's stated source, the French satire (by Nicolas-Pierre-

Henri de Montfaucos de Villars, the abbot of Villars) Comte de
Gabalis (1670) describes gnomes as such:

“The Earth is filled almost to the center with Gnomes or

Pharyes, a people of small stature, the guardians of treasures,
of mines, and of precious stones. They are ingenious, friends
of men, and easie to be commanded. They furnish the
children of the sages with as such money, as they have need
of; and never ask any other reward of their services, than the
glory og being commanded. The “Gnomides” or wives of these
“Gnomes or Phararyes”, are little, but very handsom; and
their habit marvellously curious.”

Vallars used the tern “gnomide” to refer to female gnomes

(often “gnomid” in England traditions). Modern fiction
instead uses the word “gnomess”, to refer to female gnomes.

In 19th century fiction, the chthomic gnome became a sort of

antithesis to the more airy or luminous fairy. Nathaniel
Hawthorne in “Twice-Told Tales” (1837) contrasted the two in
“Small enough to be king of the fairies, and ugly enough to be
king of the gnomes”. Similarly, gnomes are contrasted to
elves, as in William Cullen Bryant's “Little people of the
snow”, (1877), which has, “let us have a tale of elves that ride
by night, with jingling reins, or gnomes of the mine”.

One of the first movements in Mussorgsky's 1874 work

“Pictures at the Exhibition”, named “Gnomus” (the Latin word
for “The Gnome”), is written to sound as if a gnome is moving
about, his movements constantly changing in speed.

Franz Hartmann in 1895 satirized materialism in an allegorical

tale entitled “Unter den Gnomen im Untersberg”. The English
translation appeared in 1896 as “Among the Gnomes: An
Occult Tale Of Adventure In The Untersberg.” In this story, the
Gnomes are still clearly subterranean creatures, guarding their
treasures of gold within the Untersberg mountain.

As a figure of 19th century fairy tales, the term gnome became

largely synonymous with other terms for “little people”, by
the 20 century, such as “goblins, brownie, leprechaun”, and
other instances of the “domestic spirit” type, losing its strict
association with earth or the underground world.

IN MODERN FANTASY LITERATURE:

Creatures called gnomes have been used in fantasy genre of

fiction and later gaming since the mid-nineteenth century.
. In L. Frank Baum's Oz series (created 1900 to 1914), the
Nomes (so spelled) was used. Ruth Plumly Thompson, who
continued the series (1972 to 1976), after Baum's death,
reverted back to the traditional spelling.

. J.R.R. Tolkien in “Legendarium” (created 1914 to 1973)

surrounding his elves, used “Gnomes”.

. BB's “The little grey men” (1942), is a story of the last gnome
in England, little wild men who lived by hunting and fishing.

. In C.S. Lewis's book, “The Chronicles of Narnia” (created 1950

to 1956), the gnomes were sometimes called, “Earthmen”.

. The Dutch books “Gnomes” (1976), and “The Secret Book Of

Gnomes” (1984) were written by Wil Huygen, gnomes lived
together in harmony.

. In the “Warcraft” franchise (1994 to present) in the online

games “World of Warcraft” gnomes are a race of beings that
are separated from but allied to dwarves and humans.

. In J.K. Rowling's “Harry Potter” series (created 1997 to 2007),

gnomes are pests that inhabit the gardens of witches and
wizards.

. In A. Yoshinobu's “Sorcerous Stabber Orphen”, European

concept of a gnome is used in order to introduce the Far
Eastern notion of the “Koropokkuru”, a mystical race of small
people.

. In Terry Brook's “Shannara” series (created 1977 to 2017),

gnomes are an offshoot race created after the Great War.

. Terry Pratchett included gnomes in his “Disworld” series, the

gnomes were six inches in height but they were quite strong,
often inflicting pain upon anyone underestimating them.
IN MUSIC:

. The song, “The Laughing Gnome” by David Bowie (1967)

. The 1970 album, “All Things Must Pass” by George Harrison.

. The song, “The Gnome” by Pink Floyd on their 1967 album

called, “The Piper At the Gates of Dawn”.

. The song, “The Gnome Prince” by George Felfoldi from the

2008 album called, “The Lost Ones”.

IN GAMES:

. In the “Dungeons & Dragons” fantasy role playing game,

gnomes are one of the core race.
IN MOVIES:
. In the 2018 animated movie “Sherlock Gnome” featured a
retelling of the story “Sherlock Homes”, featuring a cast of
gnomes characters.

“I Love You” Gnome With A Heart.

 GARDEN GNOMES FROM
OLD ROME TO NOW

Sorry But I Got To Go.

Garden gnomes. They might be your favorite decoration or

your biggest pet peeve. Garden gnomes are small ornamental
statues, typically resembling humans. Garden gnomes have
been the subject of cultural fixation, reverence, and scorn, but
have stayed an essential part of garden decor and more, even
as some debates rage on about their purpose and pranksters
tried to snuff them out. No matter what side of the garden
gnome debate you're on, learning some history is fun and
enlightening.
Usually the traditional garden gnomes are male and bearded
and have pointy hats. Some are depicted participating in
leisure activities. Female garden gnomes are less common and
usually they don't have beards.

Today most garden gnomes can also portray popular figures

or stereotypes. Biker gnomes for example, have the
traditional pointy hats, red or green colour and bears, but also
wear leather vests. There are a lot of ways to be creative with
gnomes. They can be depicted doing different activities, and
can have signs, plaques, or props to accompany them.

Many garden gnomes are made after gnomes, small, mythical

creatures whose folklore arose during the Renaissance in
Europe.

Gnomes appeared prominently in Romanticist art and fairy

tales as humanoid creatures that lived deep in the forest,
primarily underground, and resisted contact with humans. In
stories, gnomes sometimes protected and guided humans
when they did come in contact with them, and sometimes
have magical abilities. In some darker fairy tales of the period,
gnomes led humans to their demise by tricking them.

A Working Garden Gnome.

Garden statues have always been very popular. Ancient

Romans placed statues of the fertility god Priapus in their
gardens, to help the plants grow and flourish. During that
time, people also placed statues in their garden of figures like
hunchbacks, which they called “grotesques”.

Art influenced these decisions, as people made their decor

after the culture of the day.
In the 18th century, may of the population began adding small
gnome like figures made of wood or porcelain inside their
homes and outside gardens. They referred to these figures as
“Gnomes”, that was inspired by fairy tales. In Germany, these
fairy tales further inspired the production of the statues, as
the people conflated the myths and folklore with the
figurines.

Two Garden Gnome Figurines.

Because the traditional gnomes lived in a forest and

underground and was associated with earth, many people
began putting the gnomes in their gardens as well, plus in
their homes for protection.
In the olden days the appearance of garden gnomes varied by
region depending on that region's folklore, so the gnomes
sometimes appeared jolly, or older and more human
depending on the region. Around this time, garden gnomes
too off in Europe, and were found mainly in the gardens of the
wealthy as a symbol of fashion and status.

The aftermath of World War 1 was very hard on Germany,

whose garden gnome manufactures were met with very little
demand for ceramic figurines and they had very little
resources. Garden gnome popularity greatly declined during
this time period, but the history of garden gnomes wasn't
over yet.

During the 1990s, the garden gnomes re-captured public

attention when a group of people in France, called the
“Garden Gnome Liberation Front”, gained fame for stealing
gnomes, taking them travelling, and sending pictures back to
their owners, or simply taking the gnomes and leaving them in
allegedly funny situations for people to find. Often these
gnomes were given signs claiming that they wanted,
“FREEDOM”, or that they had other motives for, “ESCAPING.”
Sometimes these thieves would return the gnomes, and other
collected large groups and then set them up in scenes in public
places.

Many owners of these gnomes were incredibly upset that

their gnomes disappeared. Some unofficial gnome liberation
groups still operate, though the original group in France was
caught and was given heavy fines.

Gnomes Living In The Garden.

 GARDEN GNOME DEBATE

A Gnome Welcomes You To The Debate.

Despite their early history as exclusive decorations for the rich

and powerful, garden gnomes today rarely have the same
status and are sometimes even viewed as “tacky.”

The CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW famously banned gnomes until

2013, and permitting them at the show was considered a
highly controversial move since it, “degraded” the garden.
However, those who complained about the lawn gnomes
received significant backlash, and they were accused of being
snobbish, since garden gnomes are very common in middle
and working class homes.

This debate had been going on for most of the history of

garden gnomes, which is part of why gnomes gained and lost
popularity repeatedly over the years. Also, do to their
humanoid appearance, garden gnomes seem to be a target for
humans to want to put them in funny situations.

Today however, gnomes are known for being funny rather

than dignified. There are still serious collectors of garden
gnomes, (LIKE MY WIFE), but they are not necessarily serious
gardeners, hence the view of some gardeners that gnomes are
a novelty, and not a garden piece. For example you would not
see a corn farmer put gnomes in their fields or wheat farmers
do it. So these people would be against them.

Ultimately, it is up to the individual person to decide if they

want to include a garden gnome in their homes, around their
homes, and in their gardens.
Some people today make elaborate, “fairy gardens”, and
create a whimsical space in which to place their gnomes.
Others add gnomes for a humorous touch.

Garden gnomes, however, you feel about them, have long

been part of our society and part of gardening culture. While
gnomes may never have a totally secure place in gardens, they
are clearly here to stay.

I Am Hamish The Gnome.

 CELEBRATING GARDEN GNOMES

TODAY YOU CAN LOOK amongst the greenery of Germany's

lush gardens and you might spot a green-capped,
“gartenzwerg”, or “garden gnome”. Today, children draw and
doodle, and make different paper crafts, just in time for,
“Garden Day”, in Germany and celebrate these tiny statues
for their big role in German history.

Gnome figures first appeared in 13th century Anatolia and re-

emerged in 16th century Italy. The common garden gnome
originated in 19th century Germany from the mining area of
Thuringia. This is where the local craftsmen are given credit
for hand crafting the gnomes as we know them today, some
with shaggy beards and different pointed hats.

Propelled by local myths and increased leisure time, the

gnomes began to find homes in gardens throughout the
country. Some legend has it that they protect these gardens
and bring good luck.
 WHAT IS IT “A GNOME”?

“ My Friend I Welcome You”. I Welcome

You Now, But Later Don't Come Back.

You're walking around a nice neighbourhood, it is a nice

beautiful Spring early evening and there's many picturesque
gardens along the street, when suddenly you notice a strange
little figure with a bright red hat and bushy beard staring at
you through the bushes. What is it?

When and why did it become popular to put short bearded

figures, gnomes in gardens? And what is a gnome anyway?
And what's with all these stories of people stealing garden
gnomes and even taking them on trips around the world?
WELL, let's start with the simple question: “What is a gnome,
and what is a garden gnome in particular?”

“ACTUAL” GNOMES AND GARDEN GNOMES

The modern garden gnomes are based on the legendary,

“Gnomes”, of myth, mysticism, and fairy tales. Gnomes have
historically been described as small, stout beings who live in
nature usually in underground dwellings. European magicians
and other mystics considered gnomes the most common and
important elemental spirits of the “earth” element of the
three classical elements being, water, fire, and air.

These gnomes were said to ware conical hats of different

colours, and to be able to move through the earth itself as
easily as we move through air. Yet if any of these
underground dwellers were caught out in the daylight it was
said that the rays of the sun turned them into stone.
Sometimes these gnomes were said to have some magical
powers to protect or punish people, or to reward them with
happiness. These creatures are also said to be guardians of
secret underground treasures, especially gold, but they also
guard minerals and precious gems, such as diamonds and
emeralds.

Even in modern times gnomes are said to be involved in the

hidden processes of plant life. In fact many farms, including
prize winning vineries, follow principles based on these
beliefs.

More modern descriptions of gnomes usually emphasize their

bright red pointed hats, solid coloured clothes, and a long
white beard of the typical male.

Though sightings of female gnomes are rarely reported,

gnome women are generally thought to be beard-free but
there are female gnomes that have beards also in some
cultures around the world.
 FEMALE GNOMES

A female gnome in the woods.

A female gnome on the steps

of a house.
 OTHER NAMES USED

A gnome with watering can.

Gnomes are known by different names throughout different

parts of Europe, for instance, they are called:

. “barbegazi” in Switzerland and France.

. “kaukis” in Prussia.
. “leprechauns” and “clurichauns” in Ireland.
. “saunatonttu” in Finland.
. “nisse” or “tomta” in Scandanavia.
. “voettir” in Iceland.
. “brownie” or “broonie” in Scotland.
. “brunaidh” or “gruagach” in Scottish Gaelic.

Other parts of the world have traditions about very similar

creatures. For example in Japan magical beings such as
“bakemono”, “yokai”, and even “Tengu” are comparable
gnomes.

In fairy tales and other European mythologies gnomes are

often confused with goblins, dwarves, and elves.

Today gnomes continue to feature in a wide variety of

literature and other media, ranging from Harry Potter to
South Park to even being used as the name of computer
systems and aircraft engines.
 A “BROWNIE” OR “BROONIE”

This is an illustration of a “Brownie” sweeping

with a handmade broom by Arthur Rackham

BROWNIE OR (BROONIE)

GROUPING ... Legendary creature

SUB GROUPING ... Fairy
 ... Goblin
... Household spirit
OTHER NAMES ... Brounie
... Broonie
... Urisk
... Brunaidh
... Uruisg
... Gruagach
COUNTRY ... Scotland & Ireland

A “Brownie” or “Broonie”, (Scotish), also known as a

“Brunaidh” or “Gruagach” (Scotish Gaelic), is a household
spirit from Scottish folklore that is said to come out at night
while the owners of the house are sleeping and perform
various chores and farming tasks. The human owners of the
house must leave a bowl of milk or cream or some other
offering for the brownie, usually by the hearth. Broonie are
described as easily offended and will leave their homes
forever if they feel that they have been insulted or in any way
taken advantage of. Broonies are characteristically
mischievous and are often said to punish and pull pranks on
lazy servants. It they are angered, they are sometimes said to
turn malicious, like boggarts.

Brownies originated as domestic tutelary spirits, very similar

to the Lares of Old Roman tradition. Descriptions of brownies
vary from region to region, but they are usually described as
ugly, brown-skined and covered with hair. In the oldest
stories, they are usually human sized or larger. In more recent
times, they have come to be seen as small and wizened. They
are often capable of turning invisible and that they sometimes
appear in the shapes of animals (a shapeshifter). They are
always either naked or dressed in rags. If a person attempts to
present a brownie with clothing or if a person attempts to
baptize him, he will leave forever.

Although the name, “Brownie” originated as a dialectal word

that is used only in the United Kingdom, it has since become
the standard term for all such creatures throughout the
United Kingdom and also throughout Ireland. Regional
variants in Scotland and England include, hobs, silkies, and
uruisgs. Variants outside England and Scotland are the Welsh
Bwbach and the Manx Fenodyree.

Brownies have also appeared outside of folklore, including in

John Milton's poem L'Allegro, and also in George Felfoldi's
poem In My Garden. They became popular in works of
children's literature in the 19th century and continued to
appear in works of modern fantasy.

The Brownies in the Girl Guides are named after a short story
by Juliana Horatia Ewing that was based on brownie folklore.

Door of a gnome dwelling.

 ORIGIN OF BROWNIES

An earlier illustration of a Brownie.

As I mentioned before, brownies originated as a domestic

tutelary spirit, that was very was or is to the Lares of ancient
Roman tradition, who were envisioned as the protective
spirits of deceased ancestors. Brownies and Lares are both
regarded as solitary and devoted to serving the members of
the house. They both are said to be hairy and dress in rags and
both are said to demand offerings of dairy products and other
foods. Like Lares, brownies were associated with the dead and
a brownie is sometimes described as the ghost of a deceased
servant who once worked in the house. The Cauld Lad of
Hilton, for instance, was reputed to be the ghost of the stable
boy who was murdered by one of the Lords of Hilton Castle in
a fit of passion. Those people who saw him described him as a
naked boy. He was said to clean up anything that was untidy
and make messes of things that were tidy.

The menehunes of Hawaiian folklore have been compared to

the brownies as well, seeing they are portrayed as a race of
dwarf people that carry out work during the night time.

Roman Lararium, or household shrine of the Lares, from the

House of the Vettii in Pompeii. Brownies bear many
similarities to the Roman Lares.

The family cult of deceased ancestors in ancient times

centered around the hearth, which later became the place
where offerings would be left for the brownies.
The most significant difference between brownies and Lares is
that, while Lares were permanently bound to the house in
which they lived, brownies are seen to be more mobile,
capable of leaving or moving to another house if they became
dissatisfied.

One story describes a brownie who left the house after the
stingy housewife fired all the servants because the brownie
was doing all the work and refused to return until all the
servants had been re-hired.
 IN SCOTTISH AND IRISH TRADITIONS

A brownie mending a sock.

ACTIVITIES OF BROWNIES:

Traditions about brownies are generally similar across

different parts of The United Kingdom. They are said to
inhabit homes and farms. They only work at night, performing
necessary housework and farm tasks while the human
residents of the home are asleep. The presence of the
brownie is believed to ensure household prosperity, and the
human residents of the home are expected to leave offerings.
These offerings are usually left on the hearth.

The brownie will punish household servants that are lazy or

slovenly by pinching then while they are sleeping, breaking or
upsetting objects that are around them, or causing other
mischief. Sometimes these brownies are said to create noise
at night or leave messes simply for their own amusement. In
some earlier stories, brownies were described as guarding
treasure, a non-domestic task outside their own usual area.

Brownies are almost always described as solitary creatures

that like to work alone to avoid being seen. There is rarely
said to be more than one brownie living in the same home.
Usually, the brownie associated with a house is said to live in
a specific space or area, such as a particular nearby, rock,
stream, cave, or pond.

Some individual brownies are occasionally given names.

Around 1650 such as; “Tawny Boy”, also was known as “Cauld
Lad”.

Brownies are said to be motivated by personal friendships and

fancies, and they may sometimes be moved to perform extra
work outside their normal duties, such as, fetching a midwife
when the lady of the house went into labour, as in the story of
“A brownie from Balquam”.

THE APPEARANCE OF A BROWNIE:

Brownies are virtually always male, but female brownies, such

as “Hairy Meg”, or “Meg Mullach”, have occasionally been
described as well. They are usually envisioned as ugly and
their appearances are sometimes described as frightening or
unsetting to members of the homes in which they reside.

They received their name from the fact that they are usually
descrimbed as brown-skinned and completely covered in hair.
In the earliest traditions, brownies are either the same size as
humans or sometimes a bit larger, but in later accounts, they
are described as, “small, wizened, and shaggy”. They are often
characterized as short and rotund, a description that may be
related to mid-seventeenth century Scottish descriptions of
the Devil. Two Scottish witchcraft confessions, one by Thomas
Shanks in 1649 and another by Margaret Comb in 1680, both
described meetings with a “thick little man”. The man in these
descriptions may have been conceived as a brownie.

In the late 19th century, the Irish folklorist Thomas Keightley

described the brownies as a “personage of small stature,
wrinkled visage, covered with short curly brown hair, and
wearing a brown mantle and hood”. Brownies are usually
described as either naked or clothed in rags. Brownies of the
Scottish Lowlands were said not to have noses, but instead
they had merely a single hole in the center of their face. In
Aberdeenshire, brownies are sometimes described as having
no fingers and no toes. Sometimes brownies are stated to
appear like children, either naked or dressed in white tunics.

Like the Phooka in Irish folklore, brownies are sometimes

described as taking on the form of different animals. As a rule,
they can turn invisible, but they are supposed to rarely need
this ability because they are already experts at sneaking and
hiding.

A story from Peebleshire tells of two maids that stole a bowl

of milk and a bannock that was left out for the brownie. They
both sat down together to eat them, but the brownie sat
between them invisible and whenever either of them tried to
eat the bannock or drink the milk, the brownie would steal it
from them.

A tiny Elf playing a flute.

 BROWNIES LEAVING THE HOUSE

If the brownie feels that he has been slighted or taken

advantage of, he will vanish forever, taking the prosperity of
the household with him. Sometimes the brownie is said to fly
into a rage and wreck all his work before leaving. I some
extreme cases, brownies are even sometimes said to turn into
malicious boggarts if angered or treated unfairly. A brownie is
said to take offence if a human observes him working, if a
human criticizes him, or if a human laughs at him. Brownies
are supposedly especially if they are angered by anything the
regard as contempt or condescension.

The brownies at Cranshaws in Berwickshire is said to have

mown and stacked, so that at night, the brownie carried al the
grain to Raven Crag two miles away and hurled it off the cliff,
all in the while muttering:

It's no' weel mow'd! It's no' weel mow'd!

Then it's ne'er mow'd by me again;
 I'll scatter it owre the Raven Stane
And they'll hae some wark ere it's mow'd again!

A brownie can also be driven away if someone attempts to

baptize him. In some stories, even the manner in which their
bowl of milk are given is enough to drive the brownie away.
The brownie of Bodsbeck, near the town of Moffat in
Scotland, left for the nearby farm of Leithenhall after the
owner of Bodsbeck called him after pouring his milk, instead
of letting him find the milk himself.

Sometimes giving the brownie a name was enough to drive

him away. A brownie that haunted Almor Burn near Pitlochry
in Perthshire was often heard splashing and paddling in the
water. He was said to go up to a nearby farm every night with
wet feet, if anything seemed to be untidy, he would put it in
order, and did not go near the road leading up from the water
at night. A man who was returning from the market one night
heard him splashing in the water and he called out to him,
addressing the brownie by the nickname, “Puddlefoot”.
Than he vanished forever and was never seen again.
 GIVING CLOTHES TO BROWNIES

If presented clothing to brownies

they will leave forever. (1891).

If the family gives the brownie a gift of clothing, he will leave

forever and will refuse to work for the same family again. The
first mention in England of brownies disappearing after being
presented with clothes comes from Book Four, Chepter Ten of
Reginald Scot's The Discoverie of Witchcraft, to recite couplets
before disappearing. One brownie from Scotland is said to
have angrily declared:

Red breeks and a ruffled sark!

Ye'll no get me to do your wark!

Another brownie from Berwickshire is said to have declared:

Gie Brownie a coat, gie Brownie a sark,

Ye'se get nae mair o' Brownie wark.

Explanations differ regarding why brownies disappear when

presented with some clothing, but the most common
explanation is that the brownie regards the gift of clothing as
an insult.

One story from Lincolnshire, that was first recorded in 1891,

attempts to rationalize the motif by making a brownie who is
accustomed to being represented with linen shirts become
enraged upon being presented with a shirt that was made of
sackcloth. The brownie in the story sings before disappearing:

Harden, harden, harden hamp,

I will neither grind nor stamp;
Had you given me linen gear,
I have served you for many year.
Thrift may go, bad luck may stay,
I shall travel far away.

The Cauld Lad of Hilton seems to have wanted clothes and to

have been grateful for the gift, yet still refused to stay after
receiving them. At night, people were supposed to have heard
him working and singing:

Wae's me! Wae's me!

The acorn is not yet
Fallen from the tree,
 That's to grow to the wood,
That's to make the cradle,
That's to rock the bairn,
That's to grow a man,
That's to lay to me.

After the servants presented him with a green mantle and

hood, he is supposed to have joyfully sung before
disappearing:

Here's a cloak, and here's a hood!

The Cauld Lad of Hilton,
Will do no more good!

It is very possible that the Cauld Lad may have simply thought
himself, “too grand for work”, a motif attested to in the folk
tales, or that the gift of clothing may have been seen as a
means of freeing him from a curse.
A brownie from Jedburgh is also said to have desired clothing.
The servants are reported to have heard him one night saying,
“Wae's me for a green sark!” The laird ordered for a green
shirt to be made for the brownie. It was left out for him and
he disappeared forever. All the people assumed that he has
gone to Fairyland.

BROWNIE'S SEAT / BROWNIE'S SWAY

In the 19th century, the pothook used to hang pots over the
fire was made with a crook in it, which was known to the
people in Herefordshire as the, “brownie's seat” or “brownie's
sway”.

If the crook did not have a crook on it, people would hang a
horseshoe on it upside down so that the brownie would have
a place to sit.

The brownie at the Portway Inn in Staunton on Wye

reportedly had a very bad habit of stealing the family keys
and the only way to retrieve them was for the whole family sit
around the hearth and to set a piece of cake on the hob as an
offering to the brownie. Then they would all sit with their
eyes closed, while being absolutely silent, and the missing
keys would be hurled at them from behind.

A cute fairy and a gnome

at the river fishing.
 IN MY GARDEN POEM
(George Felfoldi – March 27th. 2021)

Deep in the night when, Brownies and goblins play,

And gnomes take care of my garden.
I thought at night, I heard a fiddle play,
And there was singing, in the garden.

When I woke, the wind was still,

And morning, is just starting.
I looked around, and what I found,
My flowers, nicely blooming.

Goblins played, and fairies swayed,

Their songs were never ending.
Deep in the night, the air was still,
While gnomes took care of the garden.
Fairies swayed and goblins played,
Their songs were just enlightening.
It felt good to hear it all,
To see gnomes, gayfully playing.

Oh my, young and old cheerfully working,

Twas such a sight to behold,
That I felt it brought me luck.
Yes, I needed luck.

Dance on, dance on through the night,

As I lay here softly sleeping.
It was nice to know, that you are here,
As I lay here dreaming.
 REGIONAL VARIANTS

In the garden gnome.

Although the name, “BROWNIE”, originated back in the early

16th. Century as a dialect word that was used only in the
Scottish Lowlands and along the English border, it has become
a standard name for a variety of similar creatures appearing in
the folklores of various cultures across Britian as well as
throughout the world. The stories of brownies are generally
more common in England and the Lowlands of Scotland, than
in Celtic areas. Nevertheless, stories of Celtic brownies are
also recorded.
BWBACH:

The Welsh name for a brownie is “Bwbach”. Like the brownies

the Bwbachod are said to have violent tempers if they are
angered in any way. The 20th century Welsh historian Gerald
of Wales records how a Bwbach inflicted havoc and mischief
upon a certain household that had made him angry. The 19 th
century folklorist Wirt Sikes described the Bwbach as a, “good
natures goblin”, that performed chores for Welsh maids. He
reported that, right before she goes to bed, the maid must
sweep the kitchen and make a fire in the fireplace and set a
churn filled with cream by the fire with a bowl milk next to it.
The next morning, she will find the bowl of milk had been
drunk and the cream in the churn had been bashed. Sikes also
goes on to explain that, in addition to being a household
spirit, the Bwbach is also the name for a terrifying phantom
believed to sweep people away on gusts of air.

The Bwbach is said to do this on the behalf of spirits of the

restless dead, that cannot sleep because of the presence of
hidden treasure. When these spirits fail to succeed in
persuading a living mortal to remove the treasure, they have
the Bwbach whisk the person away instead. Briggs notes that
this other aspect of the Bwbach's activities make it much
more closely resemble the Irish Phooka.

John Rhys, who is a Welsh scholar of Celtic culture and

folklore, tells a story from Monmouthshire in his 1901 book,
Celtic Folklore, about a young woman suspected of having
fairy blood, that left a bowl of cream at the bottom of the
stairs every night for a Bwbach. One night, as a prank, she
filled the bowl with stale urine. The Bwbach attacked her, but
she screamed and the Bwbach was forced to flee to the
neighboring farm of Hafod y Ynys. A girl there fed him and he
did her spinning for her, but she wanted to know his name,
which he refused to tell. Then, one day when she pretended
to be out, she heard him singing his name, Gwarwyn-a-throt,
so he left and moved on to another farm, where he became a
friends with some manservants, whose name was Moses.
After Moses was killed in the Battle of Bosworth Field,
Gwarwyn-a-throt, began behaving like a boggart, wreaking
havoc across the whole town. An old wise man, however,
managed to summon him and banish him to the Red Sea.
Elements of this story recur throughout other brownie stories.
FENODYREE:

The Celtic name for a brownie is “Fenodyree”. The Fenodyree

is envisioned as a “hairy spirit of great strength”, who is
capable of threshing an entire barn full of corn in a single
night. The Fenodyree is regarded as generally (unintelliget) or
in other words not very smart. The Celtic folktale tells of how
the Fenodyree once tried to round up a flock of sheep and had
more trouble with a small, hornless, grey one than any of the
others; the sheep he had so much difficulty with turned out to
be a rabbit.

The exact same mistake is also attributed to a brownie from

Lancashire and the story is also told in western North
America. Like other brownies, the Fenodyree is believed to
leave forever if he is presented with any clothing.

In one story, a farmer in Ballochrink gave the Fenodyree a gift

of clothing in gratitude for all his work. The Fenodyree was
offended and lifted up each item of clothing, reciting the
various illnesses each one would bring him. The Fenodyree
then left to hide away in Glen Rushen alone.

HOBS AND HEARTH SPIRITS

Especially in Yorkshire and Lancashire, brownies are known as,

“Hobs”, due to their association with the hearth. Like
brownies, hobs would leave forever if presented with
clothing. A Hob in Runswick Bay in North Yorkshire was said
to live in a natural cave known as the, “Hobs-Hole”, where
parents would bring their children for the Hob to cure them of
whooping cough. The Holman Clavel Inn in Somerset is also
said to be inhabited by a mischievous Hob named Charlie.

The story was recorded by the folklorist R. L. Tongue in 1964

immediately after he heard it from a woman that lived next
door to the inn. Everyone in the area knew about Charlie and
he was believed to sit on the beam of holly wood over the
fire, which was known as the, “clavvy”, or “clavey”. Once,
when the woman was having dinner with a local farmer, the
servants set at the table at the inn with, “silver and linen”, but
soon as they left the room and came back, Charlie had put all
the table settings back where they had come from because he
did not like the farmer she was meeting with.

Hobs are sometimes also known as “Lobs”. Lob-lie-by-the-fire

is the name of a large brownie that was said to preform farm
labour. In Scotland, a similar hearth spirit was known as the
Wag-at-the-Wa. The Wag-at-the-Wa was believed to sit on the
pothook and it was believed that swinging the pothook served
as an invitation for him to come and visit. He is described as a
hideous, short legged old man with a long tail who always
dressed in a red coat and blue pants with an old nightcap atop
his head and a grey cloak. He was often reported to laugh
alongside the rest of the family if they laughing, but he was
strongly opposed to the family drinking and beverage with
more alcohol content than homemade brewed ale. He is said
to have fled before the sign of the cross.

SILKIE

A female spirit known as the “Silkie” or “Selkie”, who recieved

the name from the fact that she always dressed in grey silk,
appears in English and Scottish folklore. Like a ghost, the Silkie
is associated with the house rather than the family who lived
there, but like a brownie, she is said to perform chores for the
family. A famous Silkie was reported to haunt Denton Hall in
Northumberland. Briggs gives the story of a woman named
Matjory Sowerby, who as a little girl, had spoken with the last
remaining Hoyles of Denton Hall, two old ladies, about the
Silkie and its kindness to them. They told her that the Silkie
would clean the hearth and kindle fires for them. They also
mentioned that, “something about bunches of flowers that
were left on the staircases”. Sowerby left the area in around
1902 and, when she returned over a half century later after
World War II, the Hoyles were both long dead and the house
was owned by a man who did not believe in fairies. The story
about the Silkie were no longer told and instead the house
was reputed to the haunting by a vicious poltergeist, who
made banging noise and other strange noises and pulled
pranks on the man. The man eventually moved out. Briggs
calls this an example of a brownie turning into a boggart.

Silkies were sometimes believed to appear suddenly on roads

at night to lonely travellers and frighten them. Another Silkie
is said to haunt the grounds of Fardel Hall in Devonshire. This
one is said to manifest in the form of a, “beautiful young
woman with long, golden hair, wearing a long silken gown”,
and supposedly guards a hoard of treasure that is buried on
the grounds. Few people have seen the spirit, but many of
them claim to have heard the rustling of her silk dress. She is
believed to quietly strangle anyone who comes near to find
her treasure.

URUISG

The folklorist John Gregorson Campbell distinguished between

the English brownie, that lived in houses, and the Scottish
uruisg also known as “uraisg or urisk”, which lived outside in
streams and waterfalls and was less likely to offer any
domestic help. Although brownies and uruisgs are very similar
in character, they have different origins. Uruisgs are
sometimes described as half man and half goat. They are said
to have, “long hair, long teeth, and long claws”.

According to M. L. West, they may be Celtic survivals of goat

like nature spirits from Proto-Indo-European mythology,
analogous to the Roman “Fauns” and Greek “Satyrs”.
Passersby often reported seeing an uruisg sitting atop a rock
at dusk, watching them go by. During the summer, the uruisg
was supposed to remain in the solitude of the wilderness, but
during the winter months, he would come down and visit the
local farms at night or take up residence in local mills.

Wild uruisgs were troublemakers and vandals who

perpetrated acts of arson, butchery, and ravaging, but once
they are domesticated, they were fiercely loyal. Wealthy and
prominent families were said to have uruisgs as house
servants. One chieftain of the MacFarlane clan was said to
have been nursed and raised by the wife of an uruisg.

The Graham clan of Angus told many stories about an uruisg

who had once worked for one of their ancestors as a drudge.
The Maclachlan and Strathlachlan had an uruisg servent
named, “Harry”, possibly shortened from, “the hairy one”.
The MacNeils of Taynish and the Frazers of Abertarff also
claimed to have uruisg servants. Uruisg were known as,
“Ciuthachs”, or “Kewachs”.
A story on the island of Eigg told of s ciuthach that lived in a
cave. In some areas in Scotland, similar domestic spirits were
called, “Shellycoats”, a name whose origin is unknown.

OTHER BROWNIE VARIANTS FOUND

Illustration by Arthur Rackham to Young Bekie,

Showing Billy Blind waking Burd Isobel.
A figure named, “Billy Blind” or “Billy Blin”, who bears close
resemblances to both the brownie and the Irish banshee,
appears in ballads of the Anglo-Scottish border. Unlike
brownies, who usually provide practical domestic aid, Billy
Blind usually only provides advice.

He appears in the ballad of, “Young Bekie”, in which he warns

Burd Isobel, the woman Bekie is pledged to marry, that Bekie
is about to marry another woman. He also appears in the
ballad of, “Willie's Lady”, in which he also provides advice, but
no practical help.

Briggs notes stories of other household spirits from British

folklore who were reputed to haunt specific areas. The,
“Cellar ghost”, is a spirit who guards wine in the cellar from
would be thieves;

. Lazy Lawrence is said to protect orchards;

. Awe Goggie scares children away from eating unripe

gooseberries;
. Melch Dick guards nut thickets.

The Kilmoulis is a brownie like creature from the Scottish

Lowlands that is often said to inhabit mills. He is said to have
no mouth, but an enormous nose that covers most of his face.
He is fond of pranks and only the miller himself is able to
control him.

In Texas in 1895, brownies told Arthur Stillwell to build a

Kansas City, Pittsburg and Gulf Railroad terminal and the town
of Port Arthur. Stillwell spoke to brownies since he was for
years old and always took their advice regarding anything
from where to build to who he would marry. The brownies
had warned him not to build his terminal in Galveston as it
was going to be destroyed in a tidal wave.
 CLASSIFICATION OF BROWNIES

Three female gnomes drinking.

Brownies have traditionally been regarded as distinct and

different from fairies. In 1777, a vicar of Beetham wrote in his
notes on local folklore. “A Browny is not a fairy, but a tawny
color'd Being which will do a great deal of work for a family, if
used well.”

The witer Walter Scott agreed in his Minstrelsy of the Scottish

Border, in which he stated that, “The Brownie formed a class
of beings distinct in habit and disposition from the freakish
and mischievous elves.”

Modern scholars, however, categorize brownies as household

spirits, which is usually treated as a sub-categorization of
fairies.

Brownies and other household spirits differ significantly from

other fairies in folklore, however, Brownies are usually said to
dwell alongside humans in houses, barns, and on farms;
whereas other fairies are usually said to reside in places of
remote wilderness. Brownies are usually regarded as
harmless, unless they are angered; other types of folkloric
fairies, however, are typically seen as dark and dangerous.
Finally, brownies are unusual for their solitary nature, since
most other types of fairies are often thought to live in large
groups.

Briggs also noted that brownies are frequently associated with

the dead and states that, like the banshee in Irish folklore, “a
good case”, could be made for brownies to be classified as
ghosts. Nevertheless, she rejects this idea, commenting that
the brownies has, “an adaptability, individuality and a homely
tang which forbids one to think of him as merely a lingering
and reminiscent image.”

In 17th century Scotland, brownies were sometimes regarded

as a king of demon. King James VI and I described the brownie
as a demon in his 1597 treatise Daemonologie.

.... among the first kinde of spirites that I speak of, appeared
in the time of Papistrie and blindness, and haunted divers
houses, without doing any evill, but as it were necessary
turnes up and down the house: and this spirit the called,
“Brownie”, in our language, who appeared like a rough man:
yea, some were so blinded, as to believe that their house was
all the sonsier, as they called it, that such spirites resorted
there.
 BROWNIES OUTSIDE OF FOLKLORE

An Illustration from 19th century.

James Hogg later wrote about brownies in his story, “The

Brownie of Black Haggs” (1828). In this story, the evil Lady
Wheelhope orders that any of her male servants that openly
practices any form of religion are discretely given over to the
military and shot. Female servants that practiced religion are
discretely poisoned. A single mysterious servant named,
Merodach stands up to her. Merodach is described
resemblance as having “the form of a boy< but the features of
a hundred year old man” and his eyes “bear a strong
resemblance to the eyes of a well known species of monkey.”
Characters in the book believe Merodach to be a brownie,
although others claim that he is a, “mongrel, between a Jew
and an ape... a wizard... a kelpie, or a fairy”. Like folkloric
brownies, Merodach's religion is overtly pagan and a detests
the sight of the Bible. He also refuses to except any form of
payment. Lady Wheelhope hates him and attempts to kill him,
but all her efforts mysteriously backfire, instead resulting in
the death of those she loves. The book never reveals whether
Merodach is actually of supernatural origin or is merely a
peculiar looking servant.

Charlotte and Emily Bronte were both familiar with Hogg's

stories and his portrayal of Merodach may have greatly
influenced Emily's portrayal of her character Heathcliff in
Wuthering Heights (1846). The Brownies are also briefly
referenced in Charlotte's book Villette (1853).

The late 19th century saw the growth and profusion of

children's literature, which often incorporated fantasy.
Brownies in particular were often thought of as especially
appealing to children.
Juliana Horatia Ewing incorporated brownie folklore
remembered from her childhood into her short story, “The
Brownies”, which was first published in 1865 in The Monthly
Pocket and later incorporated into her 1871 collection of short
stories, The Brownies and Other Tales. In the story, a selfish
boy seeks a brownie to do his chores for him because he is too
lazy to do them himself. A wise old owl tells him that
brownies do not really exist and the only real brownie are
good little children who do chores without being asked. The
boy goes home and convinces his younger brother to join him
in becoming the new household, “brownie”. Ewing's short
story inspires the idea of calling helpful children, “brownies”.

Here are two small gnomes.

 GARDEN GNOMES IS MORE
COMPELLING

We are just gnomes.

Sir Charles in 1847, created a sensation in the United Kingdom

for beared garden gnomes. He had found the statues in
Nuremberg, Germany, a country that is steeped in folklore of
gnomes, trolls, fairies and many other forest folks, where
they are known to be cheery, if not slightly mischievous,
creatures who offered late night assistance in gardens and the
protection of home and properties.

As early as the 1600s, garden statuary in Europe had evolved

to include a key figure known as “Gobbi”, Italian for, “Dwarf”
or “Hunchback”. In 19th century Germany, these diminutive
men with pointed hats, rotund bellies, and white beards
became known as, “Gartenzwerge” (garden gnomes).

Much like today, these garden do-gooders elicited strong

feelings of either side of the spectrum in 19 th century England.
Even within the Islam family, some people thought the
gnomes were unfit for the aesthetic of a palatial estate, and
Sir Charles's daughter cleared the garden of all but one, which
remained hidden.

Garden gnome working in the garden.

Sir Charles's daughtes aren't the only arbiters of taste who
have deemed garden gnomes unslightly. Associated with
landscapes of the tasteless, tacky, and unsophisticated, the
Royal Horticulture Society of Britain banished these, “brightly
colored creatures” from the Chelsea Flower Show in 2006, and
has continued to do so every year, except in 2013 the 100 th
anniversary of the spectacle.

A female garden gnome.

But the undeniable allure of having quiet helpers in the
garden has a long history, that is dating back to the 2 nd century
AD, when the Roman emperor Hadrian had hermits living
throughout his villa's garden. This idea caught on again in 18 th
century England, when wealthy landowners would hire a
person to be an, “ornamental hermit”, in the garden.
Contracts spelled out the do's and don'ts of the job.

These recluses provided the appropriate melancholic

ambiance that was fashionable in Georgian England. Some
historians believe that this garden hermit (gnomes), fad paved
the road for gnome love in Britain, including Gordon
Campbell, who wrote a book about this bizarre landscape
trend called, The Hermit in the Garden: From Imperial Rome
to Garden Gnome in 2013.

Once hermitages and their hermits began to fall out of favor,

Sir Charles came along with his ceramic garden elfins, which
offered a cheeper and more humane concept for garden
decor. By the turn of the 20th century, gnomes were being
produced for the masses, mostly by German factories. But the
gnomes of this time period were not quite the statues we
know from our grandmother's gardens.

Gnome carrying some wood on his back.

The brightly colored, grinning creatures of today were likely

influenced by the 1937 Disney feature, “Snow White and the
Seven Dwarfs.”

Again garden gnomes popped into the zeigeist in 1976, with

the enormously.
 LEGENDARY CREATURES
THROUGHOUT EUROPE

A gnome doing his job.

The gnome is a class of legendary creatures throughout

Europe and by cultural transfer, in the United States and
Canada, that has taken on many different meanings, but most
generally refers to very small people, often men, (the odd
times they may refer to female gnomes), that live in dark
places, especially underground, in depths of forests, or more
recently in gardens.
Most European ethnic groups have had some king of gnome
legends with local variations. Modern traditions portray these
creatures as small, old men wearing pointed hats and living in
forests and gardens.

Despite varying forms, gnomes have the common attribute of

being able to move through the earth as easily as humans
move through air. Paracelsus, a 16th century Swiss alchemist
identified gnomes as a class of nature spirits comprising earth
elements, (in contrast to the air, water, fire and earth
elementals.)

The class of gnomes have been considered to include the

following:

. satyrs,
. pans,
. dryads,
. elves,
. brownies,
. goblins,

Some helping plants and animals, some helping humans, some

reclusive ones stay underground or in dark forests, some
guarding their gold and gems, and others interact
mischievously or even harmfully with humans.

Garden gnome, they first appeared in Germany, has appeared

in gardens in almost every part of the world and achieved an
iconic status in todays culture.

While their appearances may differ, the older and newer

traditions, so share the similar belief in gnome capabilities:
They are incredibly strong and fast, and said to posses, almost
supernatural abiliries in the manipulation of natural materials,
(Although they are said to fiercely guard against any
unnecessary damage to the earth and wildlife).
 PHOTO GALLERY COLLECTION
(Gnomes, Elves, Brownies, Fairies and Trolls)

Here in this section you will find different types of gnomes

that are seen in many parts of the world.
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