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Are you a fan of the gonks?

Christmas gonks — unique little figurines with long bushy beards and knitted hats — are often considered to be the Nordic version of Santa Claus. Inspired by gnomes and hobgoblins found in Scandinavian and Nordic mythology, their popularity has been continuing to surge over the years.

Throughout the festive season, you'll find Christmas gonks dressed in warm coats, wearing red hats or carrying winter accessories, such as sledges and skis. Looking like miniature versions of Santa Claus, they are available to buy as room decorations, tree decorations, door stops, as well as printed on everything from festive bedding to scatter cushions.

'We were one of the first to spot the gonk phenomenon and customers are loving them more and more every year,' Frances O'Sullivan, Christmas Gonk Buyer at Poundland, tells House Beautiful UK. 'It's frankly gonkers! Other gonk-mad celebs like Stacey Solomon have driven the trend. Santa better watch out – they're almost as big as he is. Because our customers love collecting gonks, we've developed gonks for every season – watch out for cute pastel coloured Easter gonks in 2022 and our mysterious Halloween gonks are in store now.'

What is a Christmas gonk?

The first mention of a gonk dates as far back as 1600 in Norway, and possibly as early as the 13th century. They are quirky gnome-like figurines with their faces almost entirely covered by a large hat and fluffy beard (you can only see their cute bulbous nose). According to tradition, it's thought gonks protect homes throughout winter solstice and the festive season.

While they're not to everyone's taste, Christmas gonks are certainly showing no sign of slowing down. On that note, take a look at the best Christmas gonks to buy now...

Jazz up your living room shelf with this quirky trio of gonks. Wearing festive hats and striped tights, they will add a unique touch to your home. 

Add a little character to your home with this fun Father Christmas gonk cushion. Perfect for gnome lovers to snap up. 

Launch yourself into the festive season with this adorable gonk tree decoration on wooden skis. Available to buy now, it is adorned with warm tones of grey, silver and red.

How adorable is this Christmas gonk? With sweet grey gloves, a winter hat and long white beard, he's certain to fit right in with every contemporary interior scheme. 

Looking for a Christmas gonk cushion? Jazz up your sofa or bed with this personalised cushion, handmade in Cheshire. Perfect to wrap for a gonk-lover under the tree.

READ MORE: 14 beautiful Christmas cushions for your sofa or bed

Brighten up your interiors with this fun Christmas gonk. With a large red hat and matching shoes, he's the sweetest character for any home.

Hosting Christmas dinner? Don't start the turkey without this Christmas gonk apron. 

Give your tree a little character with this green gonk decoration. His sparkly gold wand adds a magical touch. 

Hang this gonk Christmas stocking above the fireplace or at the end of your bed for a festive lift. 

With Christmas fast approaching, now is the time to add a sprinkle of festive joy into your life. With a sequin hat and oversized red Santa pants, we're certain this red gonk will do just that.

This adorable gonk is wearing a fluffy hat and a bright red coat. 

How cute is this oversized fur gonk? Perfect for adding a Scandinavian touch to your decor this Christmas, it has a large furry grey hat and bushy white beard. 

Perfect for both little and big kids alike, this fun festive gonks bedding is ideal for every bedroom this Christmas. It features a collection of gonks frolicking around in a winter wonderland.

'In 2020 we saw a massive uptick in the popularity of gonks, with the adorable Scandinavian creature seen in homes across the UK,' says Rebecca Challinor, interior designer at Terrys.

'This year this trend is already booming once again, with lots of retailers having to restock before the festive season has even hit.'

READ MORE: 18 Christmas bedding sets every bedroom needs this festive season

Decorate your Christmas tree with these fun gonk head baubles. Hanging from red string, they each have a green hat and long white beard.  

Standing at 19cm tall, this Santa gonk figure has a tall hat, fluffy white beard, plush clothing and a magical glitter wand. Launching at the end of October, make sure not to miss out on picking this guy up.

The ultimate decorative way to keep doors open, this large Christmas gonk door stop is what every home needs. And, at just under £5, it's a real steal.

Bring the branches of your tree to life with this sweet personalised Christmas gnome decoration. It also makes a brilliant stocking filler. 

These Christmas gonks have LED lights inside to create a warm, welcoming glow. The large velvet hats completes the look. 

With a light-up nose and fluffy grey hat, this sweet gonk from Homebase will look perfect placed on a mantlepiece or windowsill.

Looking for a festive doorstep? Well, search no further than this Christmas gonk style from Next. 

The perfect home decoration, this handmade gonk is dressed for winter weather, wearing a fluffy red hat, warm coat and brown snow boots. So sweet!

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