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By David Emery, About.com Guide to Urban Legends since 1997

Creepy Gnome Video - Urban Legends

Thursday March 13, 2008
'Creepy gnome' in Argentina (screenshot of YouTube video)Homeowners, if you're missing a garden gnome of late, you might try looking for it in northwestern Argentina in a town called General Guemes, where, according to a March 11 story in the London tabloid The Sun, residents are "living in fear" after several sightings of a "creepy gnome" in the vicinity. A group of "terrified" teenagers even caught the diminutive duende on video, if seeing is believing, while hanging around outdoors at one o'clock in the morning.

The final few seconds of the grainy camera-phone footage shows a pint-sized biped with a pointy hat sidling out of some bushes into a clearing. Suddenly there's a piercing scream, and the image goes black. "One of my friends was so scared after seeing that thing that we had to take him to the hospital," the cameraman told The Sun. No other casualties were reported.

A duende, according to my trusty Chicano Folklore Handbook, is a "tiny mischievous supernatural being similar to a leprechaun." Among some Spanish-speaking peoples duendes are thought to kidnap children, or lure them into the woods until they get lost. Apparently they also get a kick out of throwing stones at adults. A few months ago some railway workers near Buenos Aires spotted a "strange and tiny figure" who pelted them with rocks then disappeared, leaving scorched grass and a "vapor trail" in its wake, according to the Belfast Telegraph.

Skeptics say there's no such thing as gnomes, goblins, and fairies, of course, so the video must be a hoax. Teenagers playing a prank? Why, that's just unthinkable.

Update:
'Creepy Gnome' Returns - Oct. 2008

Read more about it:
Creepy Gnome Terrorizes Town - The Sun
'Creepy Gnome' Terrorizing Argentinian Town - Belfast Telegraph
Duende - Wikipedia
Gnome - Wikipedia
Hobbits Begone. Here Come the Gnomes - New York Times

Comments

March 14, 2008 at 10:46 am
(1) Danny says:

I spent some time camping out in Spain, a few years ago, and I think I may of had a run in with one of these little fellows.
One night at around midnight I went to take a pee by some bushes, near my tent, when I heard some rustling nearby.
I approached the sound, turning on my torch and was confronted by what I can only describe as a small gnome like character. It was male and about 50cm tall with a pointed hat he was rooting round in some rubbish. He turned, looked at me, then ran off into the night.
I was alone at the time and pretty freaked out but eventually convinced myself that I’d imagined it that maybe it was some kind of animal or something?
The image will be in my head for ever and it was exactly like what I just saw in this video. Freaky.

March 18, 2008 at 11:59 am
(2) scott says:

i saw one ot this little creature
but it had wings his face loked like
hornswoggle off from World Wrestling Entertainment

March 29, 2008 at 1:02 am
(3) Dhex says:

Sir, you are wrong, a “duende” its not a gnome, its a goblin or an elf.
A Gnome its called in spanish “Gnomo”.

A gnome its usually little, like a one foot tall, amd usually believed to have a conical hat. Its sometimes represented with a big beard too.

A elf/goblin its more human or dwarf sized, believed to have antennas, pointing ears and to be and/or to wear green.

Both are mythical and folk made creatures, tho.. but who knows.

August 1, 2008 at 10:36 pm
(4) Calise says:

No joke. A few nights ago I was in Argentina for missionary work with father macklerney and i too witnessed this mysterious little fellow. His eyes were wild and he threatened me with a sharp twig from a nearby bush. At first I expected Ashton Kutcher to come say I was being PUNK’D!!! but to my dismay i had not had any contact with Mr.Kutcher. But I had seen a T-shirt on the small man that read: ‘Vote for Pedro’ So it could’ve been a prank or a hobo giveaway…

October 19, 2008 at 11:31 pm
(5) imnofx says:

im not saying gnomo is fake but i am sayng this video is cuz there is one almost exacty like it except it has them shining a flashlight at the litte guy

June 10, 2009 at 9:26 pm
(6) David says:

all of you people are stupid, you saw nothing!!

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