The Moomins on the Christmas Tree: Tove Jansson's Trolls in Glass
Strictly speaking, the Moomins sleep through the winter. In autumn they fill their tummies with pine needles and snuggle under the covers until spring. Yet these very hibernators now hang on the Christmas tree: the Moomins from Tove Jansson's Moominvalley are available as mouth-blown glass figures from Inge-Glas, officially licensed and painted by hand. We tell you who the trolls are, what they have to do with Christmas and which figures you can find at our shop.
- Who: The Moomins are the characters of the Finland-Swedish author and artist Tove Jansson (1914–2001). Her first Moomin book appeared in 1945.
- Christmas: In Jansson's story about the fir tree, the Moomins are woken from hibernation because “Christmas is coming”, and at first they think it is a danger.
- The ornaments: officially licensed glass figures from the Inge-Glas manufactory, mouth-blown, silvered inside, painted by hand.
- At our shop: Moomintroll, Moominmamma, Moominpappa, the Snork Maiden, Snufkin, the Moominhouse and Moomin with the Snork Maiden.
€ 29.50
€ 31.50
€ 29.50
€ 47.50
Prices from the 4D OUTFITTERS online shop as of 19 October 2026. The prices shown update automatically from the shop.
Who are the Moomins?
The Moomins are round, white troll creatures with a big snout who live in Moominvalley with their family and many headstrong friends. They were created by Tove Jansson, a Finland-Swedish painter, illustrator and writer. The first book, “Småtrollen och den stora översvämningen” (The Moomins and the Great Flood), appeared in 1945. Between 1945 and 1993 a total of nine Moomin novels and five picture books followed, plus comic strips that made the characters world-famous.
What makes the Moomins so special: they are cosy and adventurous at the same time, warm-hearted and a little melancholy. In Moominvalley everyone may be who they are, including the grumpy neighbour and the loner. Perhaps that is why adults often love the Moomins even more than children do.
The rights to the Moomins stayed in the Jansson family. According to Wikipedia, the family even turned down an offer from Disney. Today Tove Jansson's niece Sophia Jansson watches over the artistic direction, and licences are granted by the company Moomin Characters in Helsinki.
Do the Moomins celebrate Christmas?
Yes, but in their very own way, which is exactly why they suit the Christmas tree so wonderfully. In the collection “Tales from Moominvalley” from 1962, Tove Jansson tells how the Moomins are woken in the middle of their winter sleep. An agitated Hemulen shouts that Christmas is coming. The Moomins have never experienced Christmas and think it is something threatening that must be appeased. So they decorate a fir tree as splendidly as they can, set out food and hide.
Then the little woodland creatures arrive, delighted by the tree and the feast, and celebrate as they have never celebrated before. And suddenly the Moomins understand what Christmas is really about: sharing and being together. There is hardly a lovelier reason to hang a Moomin on your own tree.
Which Moomin figures does Inge-Glas make?
The romanticSnork Maiden
Golden fringe, ankle bracelet and plenty of charm: Moomin's great love. € 29.50
New for 2026Moomin and the Snork Maiden
The two sweethearts under a canopy of leaves with a glittering heart. € 49.50
Then there are Moominmamma with her striped apron, Moominpappa with his black top hat, Moomintroll with a red flower and, as the centrepiece, the blue Moominhouse with its red roof, the round tower where the whole family lives.
How are the glass Moomins made?
Just like every Inge-Glas figure: the glass is blown into a mould, mirrored inside with a silver solution and then painted by hand, in up to 60 steps. With the Moomins this is a small art in itself. Their faces consist almost entirely of the big snout and two small eyes, so every brushstroke counts. How the Müller-Blech family has been shaping glass for generations is told in Inge-Glas: 15 Generations of Glassblowers.
How do I decorate a Moomin tree?
- Family tree: Moominmamma, Moominpappa and Moomintroll together at eye level, with the Moominhouse above them like a tower in the fir.
- Nordic and simple: Combine the figures with white and silver baubles, wood and warm light, a nod to the Moomins' Finnish home.
- As a gift: The couple Moomin and the Snork Maiden with the red heart is a wonderful present for a first Christmas together.
- For adventurers: Snufkin suits anyone who loves to travel, a lovely greeting for children who have flown the nest.
Curiosities from Moominvalley
What Moomin fans love to tell
- Hibernators on the Christmas tree
The Moomins actually hibernate. That they experience Christmas at all is thanks, in Jansson's story, to an agitated Hemulen.
- Christmas as a misunderstanding
At first the Moomins think “Christmas” is something dangerous that has to be appeased with a decorated tree and food.
- A family business
The rights to the Moomins still lie with the Jansson family, much as Inge-Glas has been in family hands for 15 generations.
- Nine novels, five picture books
That is how many Moomin books Tove Jansson wrote between 1945 and 1993.
- A tower for a home
The Moominhouse is a round blue tower. On the Christmas tree it becomes a mini lighthouse among the branches.
Frequently asked questions about the Moomins on the Christmas tree
Who created the Moomins?
The Finland-Swedish author and artist Tove Jansson (1914–2001). The first Moomin book appeared in 1945.
What do the Moomins have to do with Christmas?
In Tove Jansson's story from “Tales from Moominvalley” (1962), the Moomins are woken from hibernation because Christmas is coming. They decorate a fir tree, set out food and experience their first Christmas.
Are the Inge-Glas Moomin ornaments officially licensed?
Yes, they are officially licensed figures, mouth-blown and painted by hand at the manufactory in Neustadt near Coburg.
Which Moomin figures are available at 4D OUTFITTERS?
Moomintroll, Moominmamma, Moominpappa, the Snork Maiden, Snufkin, the Moominhouse, and Moomin with the Snork Maiden as a couple.
Are the Moomin ornaments suitable for children?
The figures are made of thin, mouth-blown glass and are therefore fragile. It is best to hang them a little higher in the tree, where small hands can admire them but not grab them.
Marvel first, then decorate
The Moomins remind us that Christmas is above all a celebration of sharing, with family, friends and the little woodland creatures too. You can find all the figures in our Inge-Glas collection and in our boutique in Bregenz. Shipping is free from € 200. And if you would like a treasure hunt for the tree as well: the story of the Christmas pickle is at least as curious as that of the Moomins.
Your 4D OUTFITTERS team, Bregenz
Sources: Wikipedia – Moomins · Wikipedia – The Moomins and the Great Flood · Wikipedia – Tales from Moominvalley · Moomin.com – The true meaning of Christmas · Inge-Glas – Moomins
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