Garden gnomes with standard Phrygian caps. Not just kitsch, the Phrygian cap was the emblem of freed Roman slaves and a recognized symbol in the American and French revolutions.

Garden Gnome Liberation Fronts (GGLF)

International mischief cults that seek to liberate garden gnomes. The tradition began with the continuing phenomena of the travelling gnome prank which was first recorded in Australia in the 1980s. A gnome was stolen and then photographs of it in various tourist locations were mailed to the owners. In the 1990s the GGLF evolved. Typically gnomes are rescued from human servitude and released into their natural environment. It began with the notorious French Front de Liberation des Nains de Jardin (FLNJ) which in their first five years liberated over 6,000 gnomes. Media coverage of the FLNJ is extensive. In 1996, 119 gnomes were discovered in a forest near Aix-en-Provence. In 1997, the FLNJ leader received a suspended sentence and a fine for his part in the liberation of around 150 gnomes. In 1998, the FLNJ was suspected when eleven gnomes were found hanging from a bridge in an apparent mass suicide. In 2000, just after the opening of France's first garden gnome exhibition in Paris, the FLNJ liberated twenty gnomes. In 2001, gnomes were placed in a roundabout in Chavelot. Last year nearly 200 gnomes were discovered at a handful of locations in central France. Gnomes are usually undamaged. but they are sometimes repainted blue and green, the colors of the FLNJ. However. another notable group, the Italian
Movimento Autonomo per la Liberazione delle Anime da Giardino (MALAG), smashes them "to release the gnome spirit." Also notable in Italy is the European Gnome Sanctuary, founded in 2000 in Barga with a website, a wooded valley preserve, and Gnome Radio (FM 101.55). The phenomena is now international with liberations throughout Europe, the US, Japan, and Australia. A few years ago an underwater gnome garden complete with picket fence was removed from the Lake District in Britain after several diving accidents and this past January saw the decapitations at the 'Gnomesville Massacre' near Perth, Australia. Recently, Gnomes Without Homes was created as an international database of missing gnomes. In addition, it allows gnome-gnappers to post travel photos and information on gnomes that have been abducted. To understand the GGLF phenomena it is instructive to note that in the 1990s there were an estimated 30 million gnomes in Germany's gardens alone. Garden gnomes have their haters, Garden Gnome From HELL has proof of their evil and a flash game where you can kill gnomes with crates of kumquats. And from the fringe it is alleged that gnome statues in your garden (along with multicolored light strings and foods and beer) will attract real live gnomes, leprechauns and fairies according to Christian von Lahr and Christopher Valentine, authors of the book "Seeing and Sensing Gnomes." Von Lahr, says that everyone is accompanied by at least two gnomes at all times and Valentine says they especially like feeding on the etheric energy surrounding chicken wings.

Stop Oppressive Gardening! (GGLF)

Le site officiel du front de liberation des nains de jardins francais (FLNJ)

Movimento Autonomo per la Liberazione delle Anime da Giardino (MALAG)

European Gnome Sanctuary (Barga)

Gnomes Without Homes

Garden Gnome From HELL

Seeing and Sensing Gnomes