Santa’s Helper - The Good Old Christmas Elf

by WriterArtist

Did you ever wonder how these cute Santa’s helpers came out big in Christmas traditions to charm their spell on us?

Christmas Elves look pretty and inspiring to kids. They love the stories of their favourite character and muse on becoming one of them. Even so, history has that Christmas elves in American folklore originated in Northern Europe from exactly where the aborigines brought the Xmas traditions to the modern Xmas traditions.

This tradition evolved into the American Xmas that was later exported around the world, together with other aspects of American well-liked culture. Santa's elves assistants may be different in appearance depending on the country with a wide range of western and northern Europe influence.

Image from Amazon.com

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Folklore and Traditions

We have these fascinating creatures dated back in German folklore where they are spirits who always appear as tiny humans. They are known for their naughtiness and mischief. A Xmas elf is a mythical creature and human in appearance with magical powers. They are pale and have pointed ears which make them look a bit funny and weird.

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Significance of Christmas Elves

I met a little Elf-man, once,
Down where the lilies blow.
I asked him why he was so small
And why he didn't grow.

John Kendrick Bangs

Love this quote by John, hope you too enjoyed it.

The amusing anecdote of the buddy elf is about a young orphaned kid who in contemporary times ends up in Santa Claus’s bag. The young hilarious child unknowingly crawls into Santa’s bag of Christmas gifts only to discover himself in the freezing North Pole. The hilarious tale of the Christmas Elves, the beaming buddy who had to face the harsh reality of the facts that his father and step brother did not even care for Santa is hard and determined to win over. His makings convey the true sense and feelings of Christmas festival which itself is a great Christmas classic.

In one story, the Xmas elf grew up in Santa’s care unaware that he is a human until he faces the reality and his origin that sets him to find the truth about himself. The young buddy elf embarks upon an adventurous journey where he gets transported to New York City to find his biological parents and explore his origin and true identity.

 

What does an Elf Do?

A Xmas elf is really a wee little elf that in modern times supposedly lives with Santa Claus in the North Pole. Kids take delight in the Christmas elf’s costume and pride as Santa’s helper.  Traditionally, Xmas elves are typically depicted as green or red clad with dangling ears, lengthy noses, and conical hats.

 Santa's elves are typically said to make and mend the toys in Santa's magic workshop and take care of his reindeer, among other tasks. The Christmas elves are in a mission with Santa Claus to gift the most deserving of kids. Elves in general originated from pagan stories in northern Europe and were introduced into the Santa Claus tale during the 19th century, in the United States.

In fact, you can even find some references including some cases exactly where Santa Claus himself is an elf. The great epic teaches to embrace with our own inner Elf.

Who do you think does the heavy share of distributing gifts to kids on Christmas?

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Santa Claus
DerdriuMarriner on 10/13/2022

The stories that I particularly appreciate have the elves and Mrs. Claus doing the pre-distribution work, Santa distributing the gifts with his reindeer and all of them getting together with the candles and fireplace fire and wonderful food that the elves and Mrs. Claus make while Santa climbs up and down chimneys from his reindeer-driven sleigh.

Would you think of elves or Santa as the gift deliverers?

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Kids Christmas Outfits of Elves

All these helped the popularity of Christmas elf outfits. As a result, Christmas elves became a part of American Christmas tradition that was exported together with Santa Clause to other parts of the world and the people who found it very appealing to the Christmas festive season and enjoyed becoming Christmas elves.

Christmas Elf’s are fun for kids and dressing in an elf costume is funnier.  Stitching the Christmas elves costumes is not a tedious job if you have experience of stitching otherwise there are great Christmas elf outfits who make Christmas occasion entertaining and a thing to cherish. You can even plan for Christmas elf outfits for Xmas party themes and I am sure the event will be one of the hilarious and crazy celebrations that you ever had.

The Christmas Elves from YouTube

Elves on YouTube

Updated: 06/03/2021, WriterArtist
 
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Did you ever got to see a real Christmas Elf?

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DerdriuMarriner on 10/13/2022

In particular, I appreciate elves on shelves.

Wouldn't they deserve the rest after all the heavy lifting that they do getting everything ready for Santa's sleigh and out of Mrs. Claus' way so that she can make the North Polers their Christmas dinner?

WriterArtist on 12/11/2015

Dear Guest - I love the red and green in Elves too.

WriterArtist on 12/07/2013

@AbbyFitz - Wee Forest Folk has several figurines that are simple and yet delightful, they are all based on mouse.

WriterArtist on 12/07/2013

@EmmaSRose - Green and red are the colors of Christmas, they serve as a beautiful contrast.

AbbyFitz on 12/05/2013

I love the little mouse elf!

WriterArtist on 12/05/2013

@ologsinquito - A kid dreams of Santa and perhaps the Elf. And maybe in real life - they do show up as God sent helpers in some different form just like Angels.

ologsinquito on 12/05/2013

This is cute. I haven't thought about elves much since I was really little and waiting for Santa Claus.

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