What is Elf on the Shelf A Christmas Tradition?
Elf on the Shelf is one of the most beloved Christmas traditions ever. Introduced in 2005 by Carol Aebersold and her daughter Chanda Bell, the tradition has since become an integral part of the holiday season for millions of families around the world.
The Elf on the Shelf is a whimsical little figure that is said to be a scout elf sent from the North Pole to watch over children during the Christmas season. The idea is that the elf arrives at your house, usually hidden in a box or a bag, and is given a name by the family. From then on, the elf spends each night flying back to the North Pole to report to Santa Claus on the child’s behavior- whether they have been naughty or nice!
The fun part of the tradition is that each morning upon the child's awakenings, they would search their house for the Elf and see what shenanigans he got up to during the night. It's common for the elf to be sitting in a new location each morning, or have gotten into some mischief with other toys in the house.
The Elf on the Shelf has become a significant part of the holiday season for many families, and there are now countless accessories and merchandise to accompany the tradition, such as books, clothing, and even movies. The tradition also encourages children to behave well because, according to the story, the elf reports every night to Santa about the child's behavior, so they must always be on their best behavior!
Overall, the Elf on the Shelf tradition is an entertaining way to get into the Christmas spirit and spread joy and excitement throughout the holiday season.
Frequently Asked Questions about elf on the shelf a christmas tradition
What is it? The Elf on the Shelf® is a Christmas tradition centered around Scout Elves who fly to the North Pole each night. Scout Elves arrive at homes in a keepsake box set that features a storybook. The book explains that elves love to report to Santa to tell him about each day's activities!
Started by mother-daughter duo Carol Aebersold and Chanda Bell, the Elf on the Shelf rules are simple: The Scout Elf watches over your family during the day, and then checks in with Santa each night to reveal who is being naughty and who is being nice. After these nightly trips, they return to a new spot each day.
One philosophy provides a compelling argument about the dangers of the Elf on the Shelf, namely that it is a lie, threatens the trustworthiness of parents, ultimately encourages gullibility in children rather than critical thinking and inadvertently teaches children that their behavior should be governed by potential ...
Modern elves depicted as Santa's little helpers
They help Santa bring Christmas to life. They design and make toys and gifts for children, look after the reindeer and keep the sleigh in good condition. They keep Santa's naughty and nice list in order, and guard the secret location of Santa's village.
Like many other holiday traditions, a mixture of cultures brought about the holiday tradition of elves. They began in the traditions of multiple cultures such as old English and Scandinavian mythology. One of the dark races of the Norse mythology, the elves were seen as mysterious creatures apart from humanity.
In medieval Germanic-speaking cultures, elves generally seem to have been thought of as beings with magical powers and supernatural beauty, ambivalent towards everyday people and capable of either helping or hindering them.
I believe that the theme of Elf is about finding yourself. Essentially, that's what Buddy does when he goes to New York. At the same time, he inspires people, spreads cheer, and saves Christmas. But most importantly, he falls in love and develops a strong bond with his family.
The Code of the Elves is three simple rules:
- Treat every day like Christmas.
- There's room for everyone on the nice list.
- The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.
“The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.”
Whether or not you're into the film, you're bound to gain some good insights from Buddy below:
- Lesson #1: Spread cheer (Christmas and otherwise).
- Lesson #2: Make smiling your favorite.
- Lesson #3: Be yourself, even when it's hard to know who you are.
- Lesson #4: Give out compliments freely.
- Lesson #5: Take risks.
There were three rules that the elves lived by: Treat every day like Christmas. There's room for everyone on the nice list. And the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.
As an elf, Buddy has to adhere to The Code of the Elves, which states: 1. Treat every day like Christmas.
As the first rule in the Code of the Elves demands, he treats everyday like Christmas. No day is ordinary.
Santa's little helpers
Modern Christmas tradition holds that a horde of elves works throughout the year in Santa's workshop at the North Pole making toys and helping him prepare for his whirlwind, worldwide sleigh ride to homes on Christmas Eve. That depiction, however, is relatively recent.
Many of us enlist help from an Elf on the Shelf to remind our kids that he's keeping tabs and monitoring their place on the infamous naughty or nice list. We explain he'll report back to Santa every night regarding their behavior.
The Christmas tradition has just two rules. First, children are not allowed to touch the elf or it will lose its magic. If an elf is touched by mistake, the official Elf on the Shelf website advises children write a letter to Santa to apologize and sprinkle a little cinnamon beside the elf before bed.
