When did all the Scandinavian gnomes become Gonks?

[Whatsleftnow]

Last year they were gnomes, elves and occasionally doorstops but now, everywhere I look they’re called “gonks”.

How did this happen? Who decided? Have they formed a union?

Of all the strange happenings in the world in the last few years, this might me the one that tips me over the edge.

Anyone else noticed this strange and sudden gonk phenomenon?

Argh it didn't quote the picture! The terrifying, terrifying picture. Probably for the best!

inappropriateraspberry I used to have that book! It's probably still here somewhere although DS used to read it avidly and may have it now.

@FourChimneys As a child I was always shocked by the naked gnome pictures!

inappropriateraspberry DS thought they were hilarious at a certain age. It is a lovely book, I'm going to see if I can find it tomorrow.

They've been gonks for ages, I don't ever remember seeing those kind of decorations not being called gonks to be honest!

Still have my copy of this much loved book !

I have noticed!
-Have you seen our gonks, they're lovely!
-Your what?
-Gonks! Gonks you know! Here they are! (points to some China-made pos)
-Ah! Gnomes!
-No no, Gonks!

They don't look nice and they're not Christmas. No!
I hear you@Whatsleftnow I only have a very limited amount of fucks to give, it's getting too much now.

I’m not happy about the situation at all. I’d go so far as to say that they are ruining Christmas

They'll always be nisse here

I've noticed this but they have been called gonks for a few years already

I'm also confused about the gonks everywhere trend! Not just Christmas... ive seen Easter, Halloween gonks, autumn gonks in our local shop!

They kind of creep me out, im not a fan!

It's the Ladybird version of the Three Billy Goats Gruff.

I have a gnome in the garden. His name is Gnorman.

That's a proper, honest gnome, thay, I respect that sort of gnome.
Not the newfangled gnomy pseudo Christmas creatures, hu hum, nope.

Yes I’ve noticed with great annoyance! My DH likes gnomes (like garden gnomes) and all I can find are gonks, which are sometimes marketed as gnomes but they’re not!

^ This!

The sauna tonttu looks after our sauna but if you're rude in the sauna, or shout or argue (or wee on the stones, I assume) he might burn the sauna down so everyone must be well behaved in the sauna.

My daughter claims we also have a kitchen tonttu who doesn't like her and stole her bracelet. We did find the bracelet hidden behind the fridge when we got rid of it to put a new one in so perhaps...

My God those bloody Gonks are everywhere this year. I’m not having it, they don’t belong here and I refuse to let them be a part of our Christmas. They can sod off and take those bloody little bastard Elf on the Shelf things with them 😡
Fuming I am, fuming. Gonks indeed 🤬

I made my own last year...

I had a gonk in about 1964 - Mum knitted it from a pattern in the Woman magazine - it looked a bit like The Humpty Dumpty on playschool. Was a bout 16inched tall.

I also know nothing about gonks, tomte, gnomes or other related species. But this thread is delightful and the above post cracked me up.

Went into the shop today, was greeted by this display and had to take a picture

Natsku

its like a nightmare!! The nightmare before Christmas lol

I've completely missed this whole thing, I don't really shop in brick buildings unless I need food shopping, but I wanted to say that some kids called trolls gonks in the 90s when they came back around. I always wondered where that word came from.

Omg they're taking over, they're like Japanese knotweed 😱