How to Befriend the Gnomes

If you want to befriend or appease the gnomes, the first step is to have the proper attitude. One must approach the gnomes with reverent silence and respect for the natural environment. Under no circumstances should one whistle or pollute if they wish to gain the blessings of the gnomes!

Once the right attitude is taken, gnomes can be appeased by presenting the proper gifts:

Tobacco, Sage, and Cedar

Tobacco is the traditional sacrament and offering for spirits in most Native American cultures, and is given as a way to appease virtually every Native American gnome present in Wisconsin. However, even European and homegrown gnomes have been spotted smoking pipes in the state, so tobacco seems to be the safest and best option for an offering. Sage and cedar are also frequent offerings for many types of Native American gnomes. For all three of these offerings, the offering can be given through burning.

Food, Especially Fruit

Food is a common offering given to the gnomes in many different traditions. Fruit and berries seems to be a very common offering, but other food offerings that have been attested to include mushrooms, porridge, corn, wheat, fish, candy, maple sugar, cookies, and pasty crusts.

While mushroom-picking or berry-picking, a specific ritual is given in the tradition of Czechoslovakian immigrants in order to appease the gnomes. The gnomes permit a person to fill an entire jug with either berry or fungus, but before they pick a single one for themselves, the person is first required to pick and throw away an offering for the gnomes, then another for the nymphs, then another for the snakes, another for the frogs, another for the rabbits, another for his patron saint, and finally one for his priest, before he picks any for himself. A berry-picker required to throw away a whole berry for each offering, but a mushroom-picker could throw away a piece of mushroom for each offering, as the mushrooms were much larger.

Offerings of berries are reportedly a way in which you can convince the gnomes of Washington Island to teach you their haunting songs and dances.

Shiny Rocks

A few types of gnomes really appreciate a good rock, notably the ones at Fifield and the Devil's Punchbowl. The ones at Marble Point especially appreciate their concretions being returned to the location.

Red Feathers

Red-dyed eagle down is a traditional Ho-Chunk offering for the heroka, little children spirits, and many other types of spirits. Of course, it should be mentioned that it is illegal to possess bald eagle feathers in Wisconsin unless one is a member of one of a number of specific tribal groups, so this offering is not advisable for most gnomeseekers.

Tiny Clothes

Tiny clothing is an offering specifically given for the memegwesi.

Pure Water

The gnomes that pilot flying saucers seem to simply want pure water. They will also offer you buckwheat pancakes in exchange, but they are notoriously bad cooks, and their pancakes taste like cardboard.

~KRANDLEKEEP~