The little festive figure commonly known today as the “gonk” has become a familiar sight around the Christmas season: a squat, bearded figure wearing a pointed woollen hat pulled low over its eyes, often perched beside a fireplace, under a tree, or as a quirky shelf decoration. But this charming creature has a deeper and richer story than simply being a seasonal ornament. Its journey combines folklore, myth, commercial design and modern interiors. In tracing its origins and background, one uncovers Scandinavian myth, 19th- and 20th-century cultural shifts, and the way decorative trends evolve in the 21st century.
To understand the gonk, we need to travel back to pre-modern Scandinavia. In Swedish, the creature known as the tomte, in Norway and Denmark the nisse, was a domestic spirit associated with farms, households and homesteads.
These beings were not simply whimsical decorations; they had a deeply rooted place in folk belief. Typically described as small, elderly men with long beards and red caps, they lived in the stable, the barn, or under the floorboards of the homestead, often invisible to the human inhabitants. Their job: to protect the farm, look after the animals, maintain good fortune. If treated respectfully, they would bring luck; if neglected or insulted, they might wreak mischief.
For instance, a well-known motif: on Christmas Eve (or around the winter solstice) a bowl of porridge with butter would be left out for the tomte, as a form of tribute and acknowledgement. Their approval or disapproval could be read in how the farm fared.
This mythic background emphasises two important features: the connection to the home/land and the figure’s role as guardian and caretaker rather than simply a toy.
Over time, the tomte/nisse figure began to merge with Christian and folk-Christmas traditions. In Sweden, for example, the “jultomte” (literally “Christmas tomte”) emerged as the figure who delivered Christmas gifts, much like Santa. Artist and illustrator Jenny Nyström played a key role in shaping this modern image in the late 19th century, by depicting the jultomte on Christmas cards and magazine covers – bearded, red-hatted, friendly. Thus the farmland guardian became part of the festive mythos.
Simultaneously, the general shape of Gnome-like creatures across Europe – small bearded beings, pointy hats, domestic or garden-bound – also influenced the popular imagination. But as experts note, the tomte/nisse is distinct from the garden gnome tradition.
By the 20th century, especially in Scandinavia and then internationally, this figure had become a decorative staple for the Christmas season.
While the folkloric figure has old roots, the term “gonk” is more recent and has a parallel history. The word appears in the United Kingdom and refers broadly to quirky, bearded figures. According to some sources, “gonks” were novelty toys from the 1960s UK, invented by Robert Benson.
However, in the context of Christmas décor, “gonk” has been adopted to describe the Scandinavian-style bearded figure with a tall hat that one sees in home-ware stores and catalogues. For example, “What is a gonk? … the history of gonks stems back to Nordic and Scandinavian mythology.”
Retailers describe them as “gnome-like”, “inspired by Scandinavian and Nordic folklore”, and note that while they look like festive gnomes or Father Christmas figures, they were not originally linked to Christmas.
Thus the modern gonk is a commercial reinterpretation: folkloric motif + seasonal décor + playful novelty.
What makes the gonk visually distinct and symbolically rich?
- Long bushy beard and round nose: Eyes are often hidden by the hat, leaving only a nose visible; this evokes mystery, anonymity, and the idea of a hidden spirit.
- Pointed hat pulled down: The tall, colourful hat is a nod to traditional Scandinavian head-gear in folk art; the hat conceals the eyes, signifying a different kind of vision (spirit-vision).
- No visible limbs (often): Many modern gonk figures are simple cone-shaped bodies with dangling legs, or even just torsos; this simplicity reflects the decorative nature and reduces complexity for design.
- Colour scheme: Traditionally red/white (Christmas colours), but modern versions come in many hues for other seasons.
- Symbolic role: Though often purely decorative now, the gonk carries faint echoes of the home-guardian folklore: good luck, protection, welcoming spirit. Some retailers even mention the belief that if you treat them well, they bring good luck.
Several factors explain why the gonk has become a popular Christmas décor item, particularly in the UK and other English-speaking countries.
- Scandinavian design & “hygge” aesthetic: The growing popularity of Scandinavian styles – minimal, cozy, rustic, folk-chic – provided fertile ground for the gonk as décor.
- Novelty + tradition: The gonk sits at the intersection of folklore (giving it authenticity) and novelty (giving it fun). It’s not just a generic Santa figure; it feels slightly off-beat and whimsical.
- Commercial visibility: Retailers have stocked gonk figures, ornaments, textiles and accessories, especially over the last decade or so. For example, decor/homes magazine articles list them as a big trend.
- Versatility: The design is simple and adaptable, making it easy to manufacture, customise, and apply in a range of decorative formats (ornaments, soft toys, table centrepieces).
- Emotional appeal: The figure elicits a sense of warmth, charm and nostalgia – reminiscent of old folk tales and cosy winter nights.
- Broadening beyond Christmas: Interestingly, though associated now mostly with Christmas, the gonk figure has also been used for other seasons (e.g., Easter, Halloween) with different themes.
Thus the gonk is more than a passing fad; it occupies a niche of seasonal tradition reimagined for modern homes.
It’s useful to clarify what sets the gonk apart from related figures.
- Gnome: The garden gnome tradition (originating in 19th-century Germany, for example) depicts small earthy creatures, often associated with the soil, gardens, mines. The gonk, by contrast, is rooted in domestic/household myth (tomte/nisse) and farmstead guardians.
- Santa Claus (Father Christmas): The jultomten merged into the gift-bringer tradition of Christmas, but the gonk emphasizes the domestic guardian motif rather than the north-pole toy workshop motif. Also, Santa is typically full-bodied, with visible eyes; the gonk often hides its eyes.
- Original Farm Spirit vs Decoration: The tomte was a creature of folk belief, with behaviour, demands, obligations; the gonk is a decorative symbol. While echoes of the older myth remain, most users of gonk figures treat them as ornaments rather than as beings with moral/behavioural expectations.
While the tomte/nisse folklore is Scandinavian, the decorative gonk has found a strong foothold in the UK (and increasingly in other markets). For example, one article states: “Gonks stem from Nordic and Scandinavian mythology” and are now a Christmas trend in the UK.
Another blog notes the rapid recent growth of gonks as home décor items, and emphasises that they were not originally a Christmas figure.
The spread can also be attributed to the globalisation of home-ware trends, social media visibility, and craft culture (DIY gonks, seasonal variations, etc.). The use of the gonk motif for other occasions (Easter gonks, Halloween gonks) shows how the basic template has been adapted and commercialised.
What is it about the gonk that makes it appealing?
- Historical depth: Even if people don’t know the full back-story, there is a sense of tradition and myth attached.
- Visual simplicity: The design is striking and recognisable: beard, hat, nose. It conveys character with minimal features.
- Emotional comfort: The figure evokes home, hearth, protection – ideas many associate with Christmas.
- Customisable fun: Because the gonk is relatively new as a décor trope, people feel free to play with it – customise colours, sizes, seasons.
- Quirkiness: In a world of mass-produced décor, the gonk retains a bit of folk-charm and oddness – it’s not the mainstream Santa, but something slightly off-beat and fun. Conclusion