Monnaie de Paris Releases Coins and Medals to Commemorate the Smurfs
Pierre “Peyo” Culliford created
Smurfs–have since become famous across the world. Initially printed in the Belgian comics magazine
Spirou and viewed as secondary characters for Peyo’s other series
Johan & Pirlouit,
Hergé’s
The name “Schtroumpf” has a funny origin story.
One night, while eating dinner at a restaurant with a friend, Peyo meant to ask for his friend to pass the salt. But instead of saying “Passez-moi le sel” (“Give me the salt”), he said “Passez-moi le schtroumpf” (“Give me the Smurf”). This made-up word became an inside joke between the two men and was used quite often. As a result, Peyo knew just what to name his little blue creations. After several years, the Smurfs finally gained their first solo appearance in a 1959 mini-booklet known as “mini-récits”.