Of course there are gnomes in Beyond, the fantasy setting for my cozy mysteries. But by a funny coincidence, there are gnomes overrunning my real-life workplace, too.

How do we know this? Well, maybe in part because we made homes for them and invited them in. 🙂 Making fairy or gnome houses out of recycled materials is a fun kids’ activity, particularly at a half-museum-half-park like the one where I work. (If you’re interested in that kind of thing, definitely look it up — some people have come up with amazing designs!)

And now for the more important question . . . what actually is a gnome? Most people have seen the modern version, the garden statue with a little pointy hat. Historically, the concept of a little “earth-sprite” person living underground probably comes from Scandinavia. Swiss alchemist Paracelsus was one of the first people to write about them. Across Europe, gnomes are known by many names, including:

  • Tomte (Sweden), often associated with Christmas (and available as cute plushies today!)
  • Pech (Scotland), known for being super strong
  • Gartenzwerg (Germany), literally “garden dwarf,” the inspiration for today’s statues

Whatever they’re called, gnomes are generally described as jovial, quick, and devoted protectors of gardens and forests. Even “house gnomes” (closely related to “brownies,” which may be a later topic!) may live in a house but often venture into the gardens nearby. For tips on gnome-spotting — not to mention adorable illustrations and observations of “gnome culture” — try to find a copy of Gnomes, by Wil Huygen and Rien Poortvliet.

And in the meantime, keep an eye out for little red caps amid your potted plants! 😉

Selected Sources

Cottrill, Riss, and Kristin Lisenby. Earth & Animal Spirits. Tamed Wild (tamedwild.com): 2021.

Huygen, Wil, and Rien Poortvliet. Gnomes. Peacock Press/Bantam Books: 1977.