80 years on, the Moomins are still going strong.
Finland’s most beloved literary family, the Moomins, mark their milestone birthday this year with a joyful celebration in Tampere, home to the world’s only Moomin Museum. The white, hippo-like characters created by Tove Jansson have been winning hearts since 1945, when "The Moomins and the Great Flood" first introduced readers to the curious little Moomintroll and his doting Moominmamma.
Eight books, multiple TV shows, two theme parks and countless mugs later, the fandom is going strong.
For Rosa Senn, who travelled from the UK with her wife Lizzie, the celebrations last weekend were more than just a fan pilgrimage – it was a full-circle moment.
“Moomins have been such a special thing in my life, my whole life,” Senn said, recalling how her Norwegian mother read the books to her as a child. When she and Lizzie spent the first year and a half of their relationship long-distance, a Moomintroll plush helped bridge the miles – and even made it into their wedding as ringbearer.
Their Instagram account documenting Moomin adventures has even made them minor celebrities in the fandom, connecting them with other enthusiasts – like Stefanie and Michael Geutebrück, a couple from Germany whose apartment, according to Stefanie, “looks like a Moomin shop”.
And they’re not alone. Moomin merchandise is big business, from mugs and plush toys to stationery and limited-edition collectibles.
“The Moomin mug is one of the best-known collector items worldwide,” said Selma Green, director of the Moomin Museum.
But behind the fuzzy nostalgia lies a deeper story...
Tove Jansson, who created the characters in the aftermath of World War II, wove in themes of love, resilience, and the search for safety. The first book was published as Finland emerged from wartime trauma, and Jansson used the Moomins to offer comfort – without shying away from darker undertones.
“Her first Moomin book came out in a dark era. She felt it was very difficult to paint, and she started writing what she called a fairy tale,” said Sirke Happonen, a Moomins scholar and associate professor at the University of Helsinki. “I think she wanted to make a contrast – Tove Jansson loved contrasts – by writing about this beautiful world, full of friendship and love."
Jansson’s own life also made its way into the stories. Her long-time partner, artist Tuulikki Pietilä, was immortalised as the practical, no-nonsense character Too-ticky. Queer themes and fluid gender roles quietly infuse Moominvalley, making it a quietly radical world wrapped in whimsy.
That world, however, has faced modern scrutiny. Debate was stirred this summer when it emerged that the character Stinky – a mischievous, fuzzy creature – was temporarily removed from a New York library mural over concerns it might be interpreted as racist.
“To me, this became quite a big surprise,” said Happonen. “I have more thought about Stinky being close to a mole or a vole.”
Still, fans are undeterred. As the Moomins hit 80, the sense of community around them feels stronger than ever.
