Fictional universe Moomins | Species Mumrik Family Mymble (mother) | |
Relatives Little My (half-sister)Mymble (mother)Mymble's Daughter (half-sister)The Joxter (father)And numerous other half-brothers and -sisters Movies and TV shows Moomin, Comet in Moominland, Moomins on the Riviera, Moomins and the Comet Chase Played by Takehito Koyasu, Hiroyuki Nishimoto, Timo Torikka, Peter Stormare, Taneli Mäkelä Similar Little My, Moomintroll, Moominpappa, Snork Maiden, Sniff |
Snufkin (original Swedish: Snusmumrik[en] or Mumrik[en], Finnish: Nuuskamuikkunen or Muikkunen) is a character in the Moomin series of books authored by Swedish-speaking Finn Tove Jansson, appearing in six of the nine books. He is the best friend of the series' protagonist, Moomintroll, and lives a nomadic 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, and is half-brother to the Mymble's daughter and Little My.
Contents
- Snufkins Spring Song A Moomin song by Tove Jansson Translated and covered by Henry Kathman
- Appearances
- Reception
- References
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 Hattifatteners in his garden, causing them to grow and drive him out. He has a great hatred for all symbols of private property, even losing his temper with the Hemulen after the latter attempts to put up a sign declaring "Moominvalley".
Snufkin prefers freely-growing foliage to fenced-in lawns. Snufkin keeps as few worldly possessions as possible, seeing them as a burden, and being happier keeping the memory of a thing than the thing itself. This aspect of his personality is contrasted in the character of Sniff.
Tove Jansson based the character of Snufkin on her friend and one-time fiancé, Atos Wirtanen.
Snufkin's Spring Song | A Moomin song by Tove Jansson | Translated and covered by Henry Kathman
Appearances
Snufkin appears in the following books:
He is absent from The Moomins and the Great Flood, Moominland Midwinter, and Moominpappa at Sea, though he is at least mentioned in both the latter books.
Snufkin also has cameo roles in the picture-books Who Will Comfort Toffle?, The Dangerous Journey, and An Unwanted Guest. He is also generally a prominent character in other Moomin media, such as the comics and TV series.
Reception
The character has a mostly positive reception.