Garden gnomes’ popularity continue to soar amongst Americans. These little statues are everywhere, from the front lawns of rural homes to the carpeted carpeting of indoor malls. It is because of their overwhelming presence that makes these once overlooked garden fixtures so interesting. Here are just seven examples of shocking facts you may not know!
1) Garden Gnomes Can Take Thousands Of Years To Form
Garden gnomes actually take about 9 years to form and mature, and can continue to grow up to 15 cm a year—with no limit on how much they can grow! Luckily, the commercial wild harvesting of garden gnomes has been outlawed in almost every country due to their slow growth process. One day we may not be able to see these magical creatures in our gardens, so take action while you still can…
2) The Largest Gnome Statue Is 240 Feet Tall!
An amazing fact about garden gnomes is that their statues come in all shapes and sizes. Just last year, a 24 metre tall statue was unveiled in Germany, making it the largest ever seen by man. It is so large that the gnome was able to hold a replica Eiffel Tower on his shoulder! Our advice? Make sure your garden gnomes are visible above average-height trees before investing in one of these majestic creatures.
3) The Hovering Garden Gnome
Gnomes aren’t just magical creatures that grow; they can also fly! A new species of gnomes has emerged, called “hovering garden gnomes” to differentiate them from the average statue. These mystical beings can be seen flying around in formations like birds or fish schools, which is why they are known as the ‘fish Gods’ among believers. The belief that these creatures can control weather phenomena originates from the 18th century, when a group of gnomes were reported to have caused a blizzard.
4) The Accidental Garden Gnome Eruption Of Mount St Helen’s
In 1980, Mount St Helen’s erupted and ash scattered all over the Pacific Northwest region of America. While you may expect this to happen without fail, what makes this event so surprising is the fact that there were no known gnome casualties. At least, not until a few years later when archaeologists uncovered a secret garden gnome community living in the nearby forests. After all, evidence of their existence had to come from somewhere!
5) The Garden Gnome Curse Strikes America
In 1814, Napoleon Bonaparte lost the Battle of Waterloo and was exiled to the island of St Helena for the rest of his life. During this time, he supposedly became friends with an English gardener who resented Britain’s control over his country – because he owned a garden gnome! The story goes that Napoleon wrote out a will that said that if anything were to happen to him, his most precious possession—the garden gnome—would travel back to the gardener he befriended in England.
A few years later, Napoleon died and a thief stole the garden gnome from its previous owner with the intention of returning it to Europe. Unfortunately, when he was boarding for his voyage, someone spotted him and reported it to authorities. The thief was then executed for an unrelated crime that he committed years ago. Later on, the garden gnome’s new owner decided to get rid of it, but mysteriously died of a heart attack two weeks after his attempt to sell the gnome. Coincidentally, this all occurred during the time when Napoleon had passed away. Thankfully, none of the other owners met a similar fate, but this has caused mass hysteria in America, with garden gnomes being seen as cursed once again.
6) Garden Gnomes Love To Party… And They Don’t Mind Getting Drunk
In 1999, a group of archaeologists stumbled across a gnome party in Yorkville, Illinois. After breaking through a layer of heavy stones, they found an underground garden gnome party venue that was filled with empty beer bottles.
They also discovered the remains of what appeared to be a smashed garden gnome – which was believed to have been eaten by other members of his kind. Another rumour states that one of the archaeologists turned into a gnome after drinking too much and it has been said that he disappeared after having left the site. This is another reason why garden gnomes are believed to be cursed; who knows what will happen if you disturb them!
7) The Garden Gnome Language Is Surprisingly Complex
After studying garden gnomes for years, linguists revealed this week that they have deciphered their language and it turns out to be shockingly complex. They even discovered that garden gnomes use a form of ‘dual speak’ where they say one thing with their mouth, but mean another.
One example is how the word “me” means “kill”, and “food” means “dead human”. This explains why most people who own garden gnomes become the victims of their cannibalism, and why it is so hard to tame them.
So there you have it, 7 shocking facts about garden gnomes sure to ‘spice up your life’. Next time you see a garden gnome, don’t let them lure you in or take over your life – for it could lead to chaos if you aren’t careful!
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