When we think of Moomin, many of us imagine popular products like bedding sets or toys. But did you know that Moomin has been around since 1945 as a character in children’s books?
Moomin was created by Tove Jansson, a Finnish author. She wrote the first Moomin book, The Moomins and the Great Flood, when she was 31 years old.
Tove Jansson was born on August 9, 1914, in Helsinki, Finland, which was part of the Russian Empire at the time. She passed away on June 27, 2001, in her hometown of Helsinki.
Tove was inspired by her artistic parents—her father, Viktor Jansson, was a sculptor, and her mother, Signe Hammarsten-Jansson, was an illustrator and graphic designer. Her siblings were also involved in the arts, making her family truly creative.
After her first book, Tove went on to create 15 more works related to Moomin, including 8 novels, 1 short story collection, 5 picture books, and 1 comic book. These stories have been translated into many languages, making Moomin famous worldwide and inspiring all kinds of products we see today.
The success of the Moomin series earned Tove Jansson the Hans Christian Andersen Award for children’s literature in 1966. She also wrote other novels, short stories, and a picture book, winning many more awards throughout her career.
Tove wasn’t just a writer—she was also a painter and illustrator, and her work has been adapted into plays. Her beloved Moomin characters and stories are now preserved in the Moomin Museum.
The Moomin Museum is located in Tampere, Finland. Also known as Moomin House, it’s a 5-story building where you can enjoy exhibitions about Moomin characters all year long. The museum includes installations and multimedia displays inspired by Moomin Valley, a shop for Moomin souvenirs, and even a Moomin Library filled with books in different languages.
Another exciting place for Moomin fans is Moomin World, a theme park located on Kailo Island in Naantali, Finland. Opened in 1993, the park features a big blue Moomin House, Moominpappa’s boat, and lots of other fun things from the Moomin stories.
Lastly, Moomin Valley, which fans once thought didn’t exist, is real! Tove Jansson was inspired to create it by the area around her family’s summer home in northern Finland. Today, Moomin Valley has been brought to life, with scenes recreated just like in the original books.
And don’t forget to visit the Moomin Café! Not only is it a fun place to enjoy a snack, but it also serves as a symbol of Moomin and Finnish culture.
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