The Smurfs

The Smurfs (Les Schtroumpfs in French) are a fictional race of small blue creatures who live in a forest somewhere in Europe. The Belgian cartoonist Peyo introduced Smurfs to the world, but English-speakers perhaps know them best through the animated television series from Hanna-Barbera Productions.

Rumors

Satanic rumors

During 1983, rumors of the Smurfs' Satanic activities spread across Puerto Rico. Those who believed the theory claimed seeing Smurfs below plants in their houses, next to their beds, dressed as the devil, etc. As Telemundo Puerto Rico had just begun to telecast Smurfs programs that year, a possibility exists that a rival television channel started the rumors.

Related Topics:
1983 - Satan - Puerto Rico - Telemundo Puerto Rico - Television

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The rumors spread like wildfire through the religiously conservative Latin America, where people went so far as to claim that small, demon-like Smurfs propagated through their recorded albums and attacked those who would play their music. This was very much in tune with the prevalent belief of the 1980s of satanic propagation through recorded music, as many rock bands made open references to satanism in their work.

Related Topics:
Conservative - Latin America

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Shortly thereafter in the United States various conservative Christian groups also began to label the Smurfs as "Satanic" -- due to the positive light in which their activities portrayed the use of magic and of sorcery.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Smurf Communism

Main Article: Smurf Communism

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

It is now argued by some that Peyo meant to spread communist ideas through Smurf cartoons. http://www.fortunecity.com/meltingpot/redriver/415/smurf.html S.M.U.R.F. is translated by supporters of this theory as "Socialist Men Under Red Father" or "Soviet Men Under Red Father". The Red Father in the cartoon is Papa Smurf, who wears a red hat and trousers. It is also noted that Papa Smurf might be representation of Karl Marx because of his similar looking beard. Other arguments brought to support this theory is that smurfs live in a village with rules similar to that of a communist society, including sharing of everything by everyone, absence of currency, same clothing (signifying equality), etc. Gargamel is said to represent capitalism with particular emphasis being made on his greediness.

Related Topics:
Communist - Socialist - Soviet - Karl Marx

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Of course, as Peyo used the term Schtroumpf, placing any meaning on the word Smurf is a bit strange.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~