Travelling gnome

One gnome with Big Ben in London

The travelling gnome prank is a popular method of returning a garden gnome "to the wild". It involves stealing a gnome, taking it on a trip around the world (usually passing it from person to person), and photographing it at famous landmarks, with the photos being returned to the owner. Sometimes the gnome returns with a wife and children.

The tradition was first recorded in Australia in the 1980s. Although not definitive, the following blurb appeared in the Regular Shorts feature of the Sydney Morning Herald of September 24, 1986: 'AN EASTERN suburbs gnome-owner was distressed when she discovered her gnome had been stolen at the weekend. A note was found in its place: "Dear mum, couldn't stand the solitude any longer. Gone off to see the world. Don't be worried, I'll be back soon. Love Bilbo xxx."'

It was popularised by several films, including the 2001 movie Amélie, where it was featured as a subplot. In 2004 it was featured in the viral marketing campaign Where is my Gnome? used by online travel agency Travelocity. As a recurring easter egg, the 2004 simulation game Sim City 4 would implement a gnome sprite in all the build-able landmarks. It would appear at various intervals.

There are many clubs and organizations dedicated to the prank; the best-known of these is the Garden Gnome Liberation Front.

External links

• The travelling gnome project at deviantART
• The Legend of the Gnome — The travelling gnome prank in 1995
• The Gnome File — One of the earliest examples, started by one Neale Ferguson with his brother's gnome ("Gnorman"), and perpetuated worldwide by the VMSHARE (now IBMVM-L) listserv
• Adventures of Kub — A Recent Example of how the Internet is being used to further the traveling gnome prank
• A Travelling Rubber Duckie — An example of how the classic gnome prank has been taken into other mediums
• TravellingGnome.net — Jerome Angus Graham III travels the globe and takes action against Gnome Paté
• Markus around the World! — A travelling toy monkey Markus
• Draft Beer Man — A guy in a beer suit who travelled the world
• Nana Global Love Project — Instead of a gnome, Nana from Elfen Lied has also been used.
• A Missouri travelling gnome — A travelling Gnome is stolen from a home in Missouri and returned with photographs in August 2006.
• Another take on the Garden Gnome, this time with a Big Boy BobbleHead.