why are gnomes associated with christmas

Gnomes, also known as garden gnomes or Christmas gnomes, are creatures of myth and folklore that are typically associated with the winter holidays, particularly Christmas. These small, human-like creatures with pointy hats are said to live underground and have a mischievous and playful nature. It is believed that gnomes were first depicted in the 1840s as part of a painting by a German artist, which depicted a scene of a gnomes decorating a Christmas tree. Since then, gnomes have become an integral part of Christmas tradition, especially in Germany and other European countries.