A Christmas gonk is a soft, round-bodied gnome with a long beard, a tall pointed hat pulled down over its eyes and a big nose, usually in felt or fleece, sold as a decoration, a doorstop or a shelf-sitter. The look comes from the Scandinavian tomte and nisse, the household spirits of Swedish and Norwegian folklore who look after the farm and expect a bowl of porridge on Christmas Eve; the word “gonk” is British, from a 1960s novelty toy, and the two met in UK shops in the 2010s when the Nordic gnome became a Christmas trend. Sapcote Garden Centre sells one of the biggest gonk selections in Leicestershire, so here is what they are, where they come from and how to use them.

Where do gonks come from?

Two places. The character is Scandinavian: the tomte (Sweden), nisse (Norway and Denmark) and tonttu (Finland) are small, bearded, red-capped spirits who live in the barn or under the floorboards, protect the household and its animals, and turn mischievous if neglected. On Christmas Eve families leave out a bowl of rice porridge with butter for the tomte, and in modern Sweden the jultomte is the gift-bringer. The Scandinavian gnome with its hat over its eyes is a 20th-century toy and craft version of that figure, and it spread from Nordic Christmas shops to the rest of Europe.

The name is British. Gonks were a 1960s novelty toy invented in England by Robert Benson: round, furry bodies with googly eyes, sold in their millions, owned by Ringo Starr and Peter Sellers and exported to America. The name was later borrowed for the furry Nordic gnomes when they arrived in UK gift shops, so a “gonk” in a British garden centre is a Scandinavian tomte with a 1960s British name. Elsewhere they are sold as gnomes, Nordic gnomes, tomte or nisse.

What does a gonk look like?

A gonk has no visible eyes: the hat covers everything but a round nose and a long beard, which is what makes them look shy and friendly. Bodies are felt, fleece, knitted or faux-fur, often weighted with beans so they sit upright, with felt boots or stubby legs. Traditional colours are red, grey and cream; the shops now sell them in every colour, pattern and size from a 10cm tree decoration to 1m floor gonks, plus hanging gonks, light-up gonks, gonk families and themed gonks (Santa, reindeer, gingerbread, Scottish, football).

How do you use gonks at Christmas?

• On the tree: small hanging gonks mix with baubles in the same colour scheme, or a tree dressed in nothing but gonks and wooden decorations for a Scandi look.
• On the mantelpiece and stairs: a family of three sizes, tallest at the back, with a garland.
• By the door: large gonks as doorstops or a pair either side of the front door, under cover.
• On the table: a gonk at each place setting as a gift, or a centrepiece gonk with candles.
• Through the year: gonks have spread to Easter, Halloween and autumn versions, which is why some people now keep a gonk out all year.

Why are gonks so popular?

They are cheap, soft, safe around children and pets, come in any colour a scheme needs, and they do not look like anything else on the tree. The trend arrived in the UK around 2015 with the fashion for Scandinavian “hygge” interiors and the big garden centre chains, and it has not faded; “gonks” is searched for tens of thousands of times a month in the UK each Christmas.

Where to buy gonks

Sapcote Garden Centre’s Christmas gonks department on Hinckley Road, Sapcote, Leicester LE9 4LG is one of the biggest in Leicestershire, with hanging gonks, shelf and table gonks, floor-standing gonks, gonk families and themed gonks in every colour, sold in store from September to Christmas Eve. We are two minutes from junction 2 of the M69, open seven days with free parking and a café; the full Christmas shop is described in our visitor guide.

Quick answers

What is a gonk?

A soft Christmas gnome with a long beard, a big nose and a tall hat pulled over its eyes, based on the Scandinavian tomte and nisse house spirits and sold in the UK under a 1960s British toy name.

Where do Christmas gonks originate?

The figure comes from Scandinavian folklore (the Swedish tomte and Norwegian nisse); the name “gonk” comes from a 1960s British novelty toy invented by Robert Benson.

What is the difference between a gonk and a gnome?

Nothing, in practice. Gonk is the British shop name for the hat-over-the-eyes Nordic gnome; in Scandinavia and America the same figure is a tomte, nisse or gnome.

Why do gonks have their hats over their eyes?

It is the modern craft version of the tomte, whose face is hidden except for the nose and beard; the covered eyes are what give gonks their shy, friendly look.

Where can I buy gonks near Leicester?

Sapcote Garden Centre, Hinckley Road, Sapcote, Leicester LE9 4LG, sells one of the biggest gonk selections in Leicestershire in store, two minutes from junction 2 of the M69.

Andrew Porwol

Andrew Porwol is an expert on gardening, plants, garden design, and outdoor furniture. He is the owner of Sapcote Garden Centre, Sharnford Garden Centre, and Garden Centre Shopping. He’s regularly featured in expert publications, like Forbes, MSN, and Better Homes & Gardens.