You either love garden gnomes or you hate them. In the realm of the garden gnome there are no shades of grey. This is meant literally as well as figuratively, as gnomes come in a variety of bright colours. They have faded in and out of vogue since their creation in 1800 and are currently enjoying a resurgence in popularity. Thanks to the modern trend that embraces everything retro, the status of garden gnomes has been elevated to that of pop-culture icons.
Traditionally gnomes are male, with pointed red hats, tan trousers, and green shirts. But, even though we've embraced the retro garden ornament, we're no longer satisfied with such a limited range. Variety is everything in today's consumer-driven market, so we now have gnomes in plaid, polka dots, bikinis and with faces resembling famous personalities.
To maintain the whimsical theme of gnomes, acquiring one is referred to as adopting rather than purchasing. According to folklore, the adoption of a gnome or garden keeper will bring you a good harvest, or luck where you need it most. But they can also be mischievous little imps, playing pranks and sabotaging your attempts at creating a beautiful garden.
Whatever character you believe your garden gnome to have, either tender and caring or playful and prankish, they seem to have an inherent wanderlust. They are often "liberated", or gnome-knapped and taken as companions on holidays and adventures. In an increasing trend, gnome-knappers take photographs of the gnomes in exotic surroundings and send them back to the original owners.
For those with a taste for kitsch, or who have a naughty sense of humour, there are gnomes available that stray significantly from the template of the originals. The Bubble-"Blowing" Gnome demonstrates his prowess by lowering his dipstick into a bubble solution and then expelling air from his exposed ... well, suffice to say that if it were human, you wouldn't want to light a match.
The Squatting Gnome has his trousers around his ankles and is caught in a moment of evacuation usually undertaken in privacy and behind closed doors. Gnomes of a less exhibitionistic mien, ride on one another's shoulders, the stout rider evidently burying his compatriot in the grass with his weight. Flasher Gnomes are also available, but are best positioned with their backs to the general public.
Despite being such little creatures, with charming smiles and friendly faces, they are capable of inspiring morbid fear in the lives of many people. Fear of garden gnomes is known as gnomophobia, and while it's not currently recognised by the American Psychiatric Association, it is prevalent among a growing population in society.
No one knows how long the current fascination with these little garden ornaments will last. What we can be sure of, however, is that when they do go out of fashion, it will only be for a temporary period. Meanwhile, they continue to live the good life, being furnished with their own accessories, and going on occasional holidays. Whether they bring you good luck or bad, garden gnomes appear to have a charmed existence.
