Garden gnome facts for kids
A garden gnome is a small, colorful statue often seen in gardens. These fun figures look like tiny old men with pointy hats and long beards. They are usually made from materials like terracotta or resin.
The very first garden gnomes were made in Switzerland. Later, in 1847, a man named Sir Charles Isham brought them to the United Kingdom. He bought 21 gnome statues during a trip to Germany. Sir Charles placed these gnomes in the gardens of his home, Lamport Hall, in Northamptonshire.
Only one of those first gnomes is still around today! It's called Lampy. Lampy is kept safe at Lamport Hall and is worth a lot of money. It's insured for one million pounds!
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Gnomes in Gardens
Garden gnomes have become a very popular decoration for many gardens around the world. People enjoy adding these cheerful figures to their outdoor spaces. They can make a garden feel more magical and fun.
Gnome Pranks and Adventures
Even though many people love garden gnomes, not everyone does! Sometimes, gnomes become part of funny pranks. Some groups, like the "Front de Liberation des Nains de Jardins" in France, like to "free" garden gnomes. They take gnomes from gardens and "return them to the wild."
Other gnomes have been taken on amazing trips around the world! People pass these "kidnapped" gnomes from person to person. They take photos of the gnomes at famous places. Then, the pictures are sent back to the gnome's owner. This fun idea was even shown in the 2001 French movie Amélie. It was also part of an advertisement for Travelocity.com.
Unique Gnome Designs
Over time, artists have created many different kinds of gnomes. You can find gnomes in all sorts of styles. Some are very traditional, while others are quite unusual. For example, there are gnomes that flash lights or gnomes dressed in raincoats. You can even find gnome couples holding hands!
Collecting Gnomes
Some people really love garden gnomes and collect them. This means they have many different gnomes. They might look for rare or special ones. This hobby is sometimes made fun of in movies and TV shows.
Images for kids
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A German garden gnome
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A replica of Lampy, the famous 1847 terracotta gnome. The original is at Lamport Hall.
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A gnome figure in Sweden
