Gonk questions, answered

A gonk is a small, usually soft figure with a long pointed hat pulled down over its eyes, a round nose and a big beard. The look comes from the tomte and nisse of Scandinavian folklore, while the name comes from a furry 1960s British toy. Read more.

Only if they are sold as toys. Many gonks are labelled "decoration only, not a toy" and can contain sand filling, small parts or wire. For a child, choose a soft toy gonk with a UKCA or CE mark and a suitable age rating. Our full safety guide.

Garden centres, homeware chains, supermarkets, discount shops and charity shop websites all sell gonks in season. Etsy is best for handmade gonks, eBay for sold-out and vintage ones, and Amazon for choice all year. Compare them here.

No. Christmas gonks are the best known, but there are now gonks for Valentine's Day, St Patrick's Day, Mother's Day, Easter, summer, autumn and Halloween, plus birthdays and weddings. See a year of gonks.

A gonk hides its eyes under a long hat and is usually soft, while a garden gnome has a visible face and is usually ceramic or resin. Gonks are based on the Scandinavian tomte and nisse. Gonk vs gnome explained.

Garden centres and homeware shops usually start selling Christmas gonks in early autumn, often from September, with supermarkets following in October and November. Popular designs can sell out before December. See our gonk calendar.

"Gonk" was the name of a furry, egg-shaped novelty toy created by London inventor Robert Benson in the 1960s. The name was later borrowed for Scandinavian-style Christmas figures in UK shops, and became the standard British word around 2020. Read the history.

There is no official meaning, but gonks are often linked with protection, good luck and cosiness, ideas borrowed from the Scandinavian tomte, a folklore guardian of the home.

Gonks do have eyes, according to fans: they are just hidden under the hat. The hidden face is the gonk's signature look, and it lets you imagine its expression for yourself.

A tomte is a small, old, bearded farm spirit from Swedish folklore, believed to look after the animals and household. The Norwegian and Danish equivalent is the nisse. At Christmas the jultomte brings presents in Swedish tradition.

In Scandinavian folklore, the tomte or nisse was given a bowl of porridge with butter on Christmas Eve to keep him happy. Some families leave out porridge or rice pudding for their gonk as a fun tradition.

Most are decorations, not toys, so keep them out of reach of small children. In October 2026 Primark recalled two Halloween gonks because the sand inside may contain asbestos. Check the GOV.UK product safety alerts page for recalls. Read more.

Check the care label. Weighted and light-up gonks are usually spot clean only. Some plush toy gonks can be machine washed on a gentle cycle in a pillowcase. Brush the beard once it is dry. Cleaning tips.

Clean and dry them, remove any batteries, stuff hats with tissue paper, wrap them loosely and pack them upright in a sturdy box somewhere cool, dry and dark.

The easiest way is a sock gonk: fill a sock with a little rice and some stuffing, close it, glue on a faux fur beard and a nose, then pull a second sock down as a hat so it covers the eyes. Step-by-step guide.

Yes. Easter gonks with pastel hats, bunny ears and eggs are now one of the biggest ranges after Christmas, usually in UK shops from February. Easter gonks guide.

For enjoyment, absolutely. Most modern gonks are mass-produced and rarely rise in value, but limited designs, handmade gonks and original 1960s gonks appeal to collectors. Collecting tips.

It depends where it will go: hanging gonks are often 8 to 20cm, shelf gonks 20 to 60cm, and giant gonks up to about a metre. Listed heights usually include the hat. Types and sizes.

A soft toy gonk with a UKCA or CE mark, embroidered features and no weighted filling, or a gonk craft kit for older children. More gift ideas.