The field of mythology on gnomes is nearly completely resolved around Wil Huygen's books, Gnomes, Secrets of the Gnomes and The Complete Gnomes (see store). Much of what you see here and around the web are based on his fantastic tales and research. The artist, Rien Pooravliet, whose drawings and sketches accompany his books has also become very well known, and many figurines and statues have been made inspired by his work.

Gnomes are usually an average of 15 centimeters tall, ncluding the cap. The males weigh 300 grams, and female is 250-275 grams.

The male wears a peaked red cap, a blue brown-green pants, and ether felt boots, birch shoes, or wooden clogs. Around his waist is a belt with a tool kit attached, holding a knife, hammer, etc.

The female wears gray or khaki clothing, consisting of a blouse and skirt (to ankles). She also has black-gray knee socks and high shoes or slippers. Before she is married, she dons a green cap with her hair in hanging down. After marriage, the hair disappears under a scarf and darker-colored cap.

Breakfast is as follows: Tea (mint, rose-hip, linden-blossom, or jasmine), songbird eggs, mushrooms, butter (from sunflower or turnip oil), bread (from acorn meal), porridge (from various grass seeds), ant eggs, jam (foxberry, blueberry, raspberry, or blackberry), spice cake (sugar from honey or sugar beets).

The main meal consists of: Nuts (hazelnuts, walnuts, beechnuts, etc), mushrooms, peas, beans, a small potato, applesauce, fruit, berries (all kinds), tubers, spices, vegetables, and preserves for dessert. As a beverage, the gnome drinks mead dew (fermented honey), fermented raspberries (which have a very high alcohol content), and spiced gin as a nightcap. The gnome eats no meat, so often consumes the nectar of the high protein plant called 'Vicia Sepuim'.

Gnome children love to play many games. Some are swinging, blowpipes, marbles, Territory, bowling, tug of war, soccer, red rover, jump rope, kite flying, balance board, checkers, flip-the-cap, Authors, bur-throwing, and gnome Parcheesi. They also like playing dress-up. Some of the favorite things they dress as are elves, witches, their father or mother, kings, queens, dragonflies (using the winged seeds from the maple under their arms), and hedgehogs (using half of a chestnut husk). Girls also play with fluffy willow catkins, dressing them up like dolls.

Quarrels do not happen often. But when they do, the usual solution is for the grieved party to sing the complaint in a self-made song, whereupon the guilty party usually starts laughing and acknowledges that he/she had been wrong. But if this does not work, it becomes more serious. A higher method is used; for 15 solid minutes, the female tells the male what she thinks of him. The male (usually the husband) cannot reply or intercede until the next day, when he gets equal time, and so forth. This usually solves everything. Often, a quarrel ends in a pleasant bath.

"Gnomes tend to live in hilly meadows and rocky woodlands. Their small size makes them wary of larger races, though gnomes are not hostile unless the larger folk are evil. Gnomes are much less dour than their dwarven relatives, with sly and lively senses of humor. Many people - mostly gnomes - say that gnomes have elevated practical jokes to an art form. Gnomes also love living things and finely wrought items of all types. But most especially they love gems and jewelry and are considered by many to be the best gem cutters and jewelers in existence." (http://www.anime-adventurers.com/mystic/gnome.html)

It is, indeed, said that gnomes are great lovers of gems and sparkling items. They are known to constantly be digging up and hiding away vast amounts of treasure. In Huygen's book, it says they live in three trees- the house itself, with a hidden entrance from another tree, and then a third is the supply room, with grains, beans, potatoes and everything else the gnomes may need during the winter. However, outsiders may very well get the idea that this tree holds their treasures as well.

Their enemies are mainly Trolls, and other beings who would try to destroy them or their homes. Otherwise, they are mostly peaceful beings. But the Mythical Creatures webpage (http://members.dencity.com/MythicalCreatures/) defines gnomes as "dwarf-like beings that live underground, guarding hoards of treasure. They are generally vegetarian and never worry. Some of them are mischievous and cause harm to humans. According to Paracelsus, they are the elementals corresponding to earth and the humor of melancholy (which actually contradicts its worry-less mien, if you think about it), which causes gloominess, irritation, and depression."

The elementals, according to Paracelsus, were spirits of one certain element, which haunts people or places. He had four elements: Gnomes (earth), Salamanders (fire), Sylphs (air), and Undines (water).