Gnomebody messes with my gnome!

The garden gnome has made a name for itself in popular culture. Travelocity introduced the “Where is my Gnome?” campaign in which the garden dweller can be seen traveling around the globe, while the distressed owner questions it’s disappearance. This campaign was inspired by a neighborhood prank from the 1980s.

An incident in Australia marked the first report of a garden gnome going AWOL. The Sydney Morning Herald wrote a story about a distressed homeowner who reported the disappearance of her beloved lawn ornament. Left in the spot that once occupied the gnome was a note that read, “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.”

This incident sparked the phenomenon of the traveling gnome prank. Unattended garden gnomes became victims to the globe trotting agenda of their abductors. Individuals began documenting the travels with the gnome and sharing the evidence with their friends. This gave the once immobile object a chance to experience adventure.

One of the most famous cases of gnome-napping happened in Redmond, Washington when Marianne Severson’s beloved gnome went missing. A group of college students had hijacked Severson’s gnome for a spring break adventure. The students made their way to Los Angeles, where a chance meeting with Paris Hilton earned the gnome a photo opportunity and a feature in People Magazine.

Gnome wonder his face looks a little starstruck…

Information from Wikipedia.