“Swearing Gnome, come out!” Remember those childhood dares? Today, we’re standing before the Gnom Sculpture. It is a quirky reminder of those whispered spells and secret games.
The Gnom Sculpture might not look menacing. It may seem like a simple piece of art. Yet, it represents a fascinating part of Soviet childhood. Spirit summoning became popular among Soviet children in the mid-20th century. Some say it started as early as the 1940s. By the 1960s and 70s, it had spread throughout the USSR.
Why summon spirits? Some believe it was a reaction to the Bolshevik ban on traditional mystical practices. Fortune-telling during winter and summer was discouraged. Instead, children created their own invocations. They often called it “fortune-telling.”
Who did they summon? The list is surprisingly long. It included Pushkin and characters like the Queen of Spades. They also summoned historical figures. Catherine the Great, Napoleon, Lenin, and Stalin were all on the list. Even poets like Gogol, Lermontov, and Mayakovsky got a call. In the 1990s, they summoned Tsoi and Vlad Listev.
One of the most popular figures was the Swearing Gnome. Children believed that if summoned, it would run around swearing. This reflects a desire to explore adult culture and forbidden language.
How did they summon these spirits? The methods varied. However, they all shared common features. Time and place were important. Children gathered at night, secretly from adults. If during the day, they created a mystical atmosphere. They closed the curtains and made sure no one talked or laughed.
Mirrors were often used. To summon Cinderella, a ladder was drawn on a mirror. Then Cinderella’s slipper was drawn at the bottom. For the Queen of Spades, a house was drawn. Children would chant “Queen of Spades, come out!” Ripples or spots on the mirror meant she had arrived.
Another method involved a needle and paper. A circle was drawn with numbers, letters, “yes,” and “no.” An imp was drawn in the center. A needle was stuck into the imp’s navel. Children called out the imp. The needle would swing to answer questions.
Treats were also used. Children offered “ritual food” to lure the spirits. They would put chocolate on a mirror. Then they would repeat, “Gnome, gnome, come out!” A red gnome meant a good wish. A black gnome meant evil.
Why did they do it? It was a fun and scary game. Many children wanted to know what the future held. Some knew it was just a game. Others played along, trying to convince others that the gnome had really appeared.
So, as you look at the Gnom Sculpture remember the Swearing Gnome. Remember those childhood games. Think about the thrill and the fear of summoning something from another world. This sculpture is more than just art. It is a portal into the imagination of Soviet children.