Easter Gonks: Spring Gonks, Bunnies and Eggs

What is an Easter gonk?

An Easter gonk is a gonk dressed for spring. You'll still see the long hat, hidden eyes, round nose and beard of a classic gonk, but in pastel colours and with Easter details. Easter gonks appeared soon after the Christmas gonk boom, as fans looked for a reason to keep their gonks out after Christmas, and they have been a regular part of UK spring ranges since.

Popular Easter gonk designs

• Bunny-ear gonks with long, upright ears on the hat, often in white, pink or lilac.
• Egg gonks holding or sitting on painted eggs, or with egg-shaped bodies.
• Chick and duck gonks in yellow, sometimes with feathery beards.
• Floral gonks with daisy or tulip hats, which also suit Mother's Day.
• Carrot gonks holding a felt carrot for the Easter bunny.
• Stretchy-leg Easter gonks with adjustable legs for shelf edges.

Easter gonk colours and themes

Natural-coloured spring gonks are a good choice if you want something that can stay out after Easter, right through to the summer.

When do Easter gonks go on sale?

Easter falls in March or April, and Easter gonks usually arrive in UK shops from February. Supermarkets often sell them as limited Specialbuys or seasonal lines: Aldi, for example, has brought back its Easter gonks in more than one spring. Discount shops and garden centres carry them too, and Etsy makers offer handmade versions. Like other seasonal gonks, popular designs sell out, so buy when you see them. For the full year, see gonks for every season.

Easter gonks as gifts

Easter gonks make a cheerful alternative or addition to chocolate eggs, especially for people who are cutting down on sweets. A small gonk tucked into an Easter basket lasts long after the chocolate is gone.

If the gonk is for a young child, check that it is a toy with a UKCA or CE mark, not a decoration. Many Easter gonks are labelled "decoration only", and some have small parts such as plastic eggs or pom-poms. Our guide are gonks safe for children? explains what to look for.

Easter display ideas

• Easter table: stand a small gonk at each place setting, or group them in the middle with eggs, chicks and spring flowers.
• Easter tree: hang mini gonks on branches in a vase, along with painted eggs.
• Windowsill: mix gonks with pots of daffodils, tulips or hyacinths.
• Front door: a pastel gonk beside a spring wreath welcomes visitors.

See decorating with gonks for more ideas.

Gonks on an Easter egg hunt

Gonks make good helpers for an Easter egg hunt. Try these:

• Gonk clues: leave a gonk at each hiding spot holding a clue to the next one.
• Find the gonk: hide one special gonk, and whoever finds it gets an extra treat.
• Gonk guards: sit a gonk next to each child's basket to "guard" it while they hunt.

Use toy gonks or sturdy decorations for outdoor hunts, and bring them in afterwards so they don't get damp.

Easter gonk crafts for children

Gonks are easy to draw and make, which is why so many schools and nurseries do gonk crafts at Easter. Ideas include:

• Paper plate gonks with cotton wool beards and paper bunny ears.
• Gonk Easter cards with a triangle hat and a fingerprint nose.
• Decorating hard-boiled or wooden eggs with a gonk hat and beard.
• A simple sock gonk with felt bunny ears. Follow our how to make a gonk guide and add ears.

Storing Easter gonks

Pastel fabrics show dust and marks easily. Before you put them away, give them a gentle brush and spot clean, then pack them in a breathable box. Our storage guide has step-by-step tips.

Ready for spring? Browse Easter and spring gonks.