Travelling Gnome

Traveling gnomes are garden gnomes taken along with travelers to their various destinations. There is no law or limit to where and how far a gnome must travel to become a traveling gnome, although owners quickly find themselves in a competition as to who's gnome travels to the most notable destinations. The gnomes usually travel with their owners on global trips, with the idea of the traveling gnome originating in the travelling gnome prank. The difference between the traveling gnome prank and the traveling gnome is the gnome is not taken without the owner's consent and is passed between fellow travelers in a never-ending chain.

Traveling gnomes are usually, but not limited to, miniature figurines that can be easily transported to each destination. This process is usually coordinated between otherwise unrelated travelers on websites dedicated to traveling gnomes, which also document the gnomes' travels with photographs and journals.

Origins

The travelling gnome prank is a method of returning a garden gnome "to the wild". It involves stealing a gnome, taking it on a trip, and photographing it at famous landmarks, with the photos being returned to the owner. 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."' There are many clubs and organizations dedicated to the prank; the best-known of these is the Garden Gnome Liberation Front.

References in popular culture

It was popularized by several films, including the 2001 movie "Amélie", where it was featured as a subplot. As a recurring easter egg, the programmers of the 2004 simulation game "Sim City 4" implemented a gnome sprite in all the game's build-able landmarks. It would reveal itself to players at random intervals during gameplay.

In the animated series "Home Movies" one can find a garden gnome in some form in every episode.

In 2004 it was featured in the viral marketing campaign "Where is my Gnome?" used by online travel agency Travelocity. Since then, the "Roaming Gnome" has become Travelocity's mascot.

It was also used in the novel "The Windsor Knot" by Sharyn McCrumb, copyright 1991.

In the 2007 game "", an Achievement requires the player to carry a Garden Gnome throughout most of the game and place him into a rocket which in turn would launch him into space.

In 2008 The Punk Cabaret band "The Dresden Dolls" released the song "Night Reconnaissance". The song is about the lead singer, Amanda Palmer, recalling how she'd steal Garden Gnomes from middle class neighbourhoods as retribution for how she was treated in high school. The Garden Gnomes are then used as actors in a play staged in a barn loft.

Storylines involving travelling garden gnomes have appeared in soaps including both Coronation Street (Norris Cole pranking Derek Wilton) and Neighbours (Dr Karl Kennedy pranking Marlene Kratz)

See also

* Travelling gnome prank
* Garden Gnome
* Garden Gnome Liberation Front
* Where is my Gnome?

External links

* [http://gnomediaries.com Travelling Gnomes on route for the Climate]
* [http://travellinggnome.net Jerome Angus Graham III, the Travelling Gnome]
* [http://thetravelinggnome.com/index.html Join a Traveling Gnome Club]
* [http://www.fultonsun.com/articles/2006/08/09/news/144news04.txt A Missouri travelling gnome] — News story about a Gnome that is stolen and returned with photographs.
* [http://travellinggnome.net Jerome Angus Graham III, the Travelling Gnome] — Popular European "travelling gnome", has been featured in some media within the EU.
* [http://gnomediaries.com Travelling Gnomes on route for the climate] — Spreading the word that "everybody can combat climate change".
* Report on a travelling gnome from Gloucester, UK.