Gnomeageddon: The Invasion of Festive Folk
Within the last year, I noticed a large pattern in holiday gnomes. When thinking about gnomes and holidays, only one thing would (or used to) come to mind: Christmas. Gnomes and Christmas make sense. Gnomes around Christmas most likely come from Scandinavian Christmas traditions which began in the 18th century. Gnomes in Scandinavian culture represent protective spirits, especially around homes and farms. They are believed to give fortune and prosperity to those who treat them well. In folklore, they are occasionally portrayed as gift-givers, similar to Santa Claus. There are also Winter Solstice celebrations associated with gnomes, which eventually merged with Christianity celebrations, contributing to the association of gnomes with Christmas.
Gnomes with Christmas makes sense. Gnomes with any other holiday don’t. The Fourth of July celebrates the independence of America from Britain. There is genuinely no reason for there to be gnome decorations. When the founding fathers fought with their lives, committing the largest act of treason, yet succeeding, they would have never predicted we would one day celebrate their coup with little silly whimsical creatures. Gnomes have spread to every holiday. From halloween gnomes (which is somewhat reasonable) to COLUMBUS DAY gnomes, they are everywhere.
The gnomeageddon began about a year ago. This trend began and spread rapidly. In our capitalist society, once an item that can be cheaply manufactured trends, the tread spreads like wildfire. This allowed big corporate companies to easily bank off gnomes for every holiday. Big corporations have capitalized on the trend, producing limited-edition and seasonal gnome collections. Major holidays saw a surge in gnome-related marketing campaigns, furthering the spike in consumption. These sorts of trends are not unprecedented in our consumer-driven culture. Whether it’s a passing fad or a lasting cultural shift, only time will tell, but for now, the gnome has undeniably dominated the shelves of all decoration stock shelves.