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
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.
i saw one ot this little creature
but it had wings his face loked like
hornswoggle off from World Wrestling Entertainment
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.
You are smart!!!
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…
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
all of you people are stupid, you saw nothing!!
Wow. It’s the “Apparently they also get a kick out of throwing stones at adults” part that spooks me -
Years ago (about 20) when I was living in Las Vegas close to the downtown area, as I was walking down Stewart towards Maryland Parkway, I cut through the parking lot of a small mini mall that was in the area then. As I crossed the large parking area and headed toward the 7-11 store there, I found myself being pelted with rocks that seemed to precisely hit me on the back of the heels of my boots. I stopped looked around, thought I must be imagining it, then started walking again. Again, I was pelted on the back of my boots as I walked.
So, I stopped. I figured it was kids messing with me, probably with sling-shots & with an incredible and impressive sense of accuracy. I hollered out “Okay you little ****ers, who’s out there messing with me?”
Then, I heard off in the distance this evil little laughter… Made my hair stand on end! Sounded like there were several of them laughing, and it was very weird laughter too!
So, I took off running. And as I ran, for nearly a block, the back of my boots kept rapidly getting hit by rocks. The rocks didn’t hit me anywhere else, and none of them seemed to miss. I could hear that evil little “hee-hee-hee-hee’s” the whole time while I was being hit with the rocks. If someone was playing a prank on me, they were doing a damn good job at it. I was really freaked out!
I will admit, I had a few beers in me that night. But I was not drunk enough to have hallucinated the situation.
I agree with this source of small gnome like men sneaking around doing dirty things to crisp packets. I myself have seen strange things including a gnome driving a pink limo…although It was more red than pink mind you… xoxo gnomes I LOVE YOU
OH MY GOD!! i saw .. i saw that thing outside just minutes ago WTH?!
Guess who is never looking out her window tonight you guys! This kid right here!