Snufkin (original Swedish: ''Snusmumrik ''en' or ''Mumrik ''en', Finnish: ''Nuuskamuikkunen'') is a character in the

Moomin The Moomins ( sv, Mumintroll) are the central characters in a series of novels, short stories, and a comic strip by Finnish writer and illustrator Tove Jansson, originally published in Swedish by Schildts in Finland. They are a family of white ...

series of books authored by

Swedish-speaking Finn The Swedish-speaking population of Finland (whose members are called by many names; fi, suomenruotsalainen) can be used as an attribute., group=Note—see below; sv, finlandssvenskar; fi, suomenruotsalaiset) is a linguistic minority in Finl ...

Tove Jansson Tove Marika Jansson (; 9 August 1914 – 27 June 2001) was a Swedish-speaking Finnish author, novelist, painter, illustrator and comic strip author. Brought up by artistic parents, Jansson studied art from 1930 to 1938 in Stockholm, Helsinki and ...

, appearing in six of the nine books; his first appearance is in the second book, ''

Comet in Moominland ''Comet in Moominland'' ( Swedish: ''Kometjakten'' / ''Mumintrollet på kometjakt'' / ''Kometen kommer'') is the second in Finnish author Tove Jansson's series of Moomin books. Published in 1946, it marks the first appearance of several main c ...

''. He is the best friend of the series' protagonist, Moomintroll, and lives a

nomadic A nomad is a member of a community without fixed habitation who regularly moves to and from the same areas. Such groups include hunter-gatherers, pastoral nomads (owning livestock), tinkers and trader nomads. In the twentieth century, the popu ...

lifestyle, only staying in Moominvalley in the spring and summer, but leaving for warmer climates down south every winter. He is the son of the elder Mymble and the

Joxter A large number of characters appear in the ''Moomin'' series by Tove Jansson. The original Swedish names are given with the etymologies and word associations suggested by Yvonne Bertills in her 2003 dissertation. Alicia ( sv, Alissa, fi, Ali ...

, and is half-brother to the Mymble's daughter and

Little My Little My (original sv, Lilla My, literally: "Little Mu") is a character in the Moomin series of books by Tove Jansson. The character first appeared in the fourth book, The Exploits of Moominpappa (1950). She is a small, determined and fierce ...

Description

Snufkin wears old green clothes and a wide-brimmed hat that he has had since birth. He lives in a tent, smokes a pipe and plays the harmonica. Snufkin also has a great dislike for authority figures such as the Park Keeper, and the many regulation signs and fences he erects. At one point, he sabotages the Park Keeper by planting

Hattifattener A large number of characters appear in the '' Moomin'' series by Tove Jansson. The original Swedish names are given with the etymologies and word associations suggested by Yvonne Bertills in her 2003 dissertation. Alicia ( sv, Alissa, fi, Al ...

s in his garden, causing them to grow and drive him out. He has a great hatred for all symbols of

private property Private property is a legal designation for the ownership of property by non-governmental legal entities. Private property is distinguishable from public property and personal property, which is owned by a state entity, and from collective or ...

, even losing his temper with the Hemulen after the latter attempts to put up a sign declaring "Moominvalley." The age of Snufkin is difficult to determine. He has had more serious and adulty conversations with Moominpappa as well as being notoriously wise or mysterious. Though, he enjoys playing with Moomintroll and other children, and acts just as childish sometimes. He is also referred to as young and/or a child multiple in the series, and is younger than

. In problem situations, others often turn to the help of Snufkin, as he enjoys the unreserved admiration of the inhabitants of the valley for his multi-consciousness. His advice is also followed. There are intersections with a wide range of

philosophical Philosophy (from , ) is the systematized study of general and fundamental questions, such as those about existence, reason, knowledge, values, mind, and language. Such questions are often posed as problems to be studied or resolved. Some ...

views on the way Snufkin thinks. He is undoubtedly one of the most multi-faceted characters in ''Moomins''. Snufkin has said that no one should own more than they can handle, and he cannot understand his friend

Sniff Sniff may refer to: * Sniff (Moomin character), a character in the Moomin stories * ''Sniff'' (film), a 2017 Indian Bollywood film * Sniff, the action of inhaling * Sniff, odor sampling, see olfaction The sense of smell, or olfaction, is the ...

’s affection for things and worldly things. Snufkin once even throws his tent in the gorge, because he thinks it is not worth clinging to useless property, but instead can even write a poem when he sees something beautiful.

Inspiration

Tove Jansson based the character of Snufkin on her friend and one-time fiancé,

Atos Wirtanen Atos Kasimir Wirtanen (27 January 1906 in Saltvik – 10 March 1979) was a Finnish left-wing intellectual, journalist, member of Finnish parliament (1936–1953) and cultural critic. He was born in Saltvik, Åland. Wirtanen entered parliament ...

. A typical feature of Snufkin to come and go independently without caring for others, is inspired by the nature of Atos Wirtanen; at the time, Wirtanen was the center of Jansson's life, but Wirtanen was so busy working as an MP that he came and went, with which their relationship failed. Wirtanen's style has also borrowed the recognizable green hat of Snufkin.

Reception

The character has a mostly positive reception.

References

Bibliography

* * {{The Moomin Series Literary characters introduced in 1946 Moomin characters Fictional hoboes Male characters in film Male characters in animation Male characters in comics Male characters in literature ja:スナフキン