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Elf on the Shelf? So an elf on the shelf? Here we reveal why this Christmas custom is so much more ingenious than its name!
We love old customs. Even more, if they shorten the Advent season a little for us (and the children) and are as beautifully harmless and funny as the Elf on the Shelf. Never heard?
What is "The Elf on the Shelf"?
"The Elf on the Shelf" is a Christmas story written by Carol Aebersold and Chanda Bell, which was first published in 2005 in English in the USA. The German translation of the book is distributed under the following title: "The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas tradition".
The illustrated children's book uses rhymes to explain why Santa Claus knows which children were good and which were naughty. As? Santa's elves visit and watch the people between Thanksgiving and Christmas. The elves hide in people's homes and watch how they behave. At night, when everyone is asleep, the elves fly back to the North Pole to report to Santa Claus. Just before the humans wake up again, the elves return and hide in a new location in the humans' homes.
The elf plays hide and seek with the people and the Christmas elf receives magic when a child loves her. However, the elf loses its magic if it is touched. Therefore, one rule always applies: the elf must not be touched. In return, the people and especially the children of the elves are allowed to reveal their Christmas wishes. The elves memorize these and pass them on to Santa Claus.
The imp also needs a name. But he himself is not allowed to speak and can only listen to people.
How does "Elf on the Shelf" work
During the Christmas season, the parents keep thinking of new hiding spots for the shoddy elves and the children have to look for them every morning. The more unusual the hiding places or the actions in which the elf was "disturbed", the better. The little bugger also likes to play pranks. There are no limits to your imagination.
