During Christmas, does one of these little fellas occupy
a place in your home? I’ve always had an elf or two either sitting on our
mantel, hanging from a light fixture, or perched on a Christmas tree limb.
Have you ever wondered when and where these tiny
folks first appeared and how they evolved into cute little creatures dressed in
green or red with large, pointy ears and pointy hats?
After doing some research, I found there is a lot
of conjecture as to the origin of elves, although most folklorists believe they
date back to ancient history. Ancient Norse mythology refers to the ‘alfar’, also know as “hidden folk.” The
Scandinavian and Celtic cultures had myths of fairies, elves and nature
spirits. Interestingly enough, most folklore of that time depicted elves as
more naughty than nice, more mischievous than merry.
The Scandinavians and Celts weren’t the only
Europeans who believed in supernatural species. Germans had their dwarves and
little sprites called kobolds. Scots had house spirits called brownies.
The word, “elf,”
derives from the ancestral language of German and Old English and dates as far
back as 500 A.D.
The transition of elf myth to Christmas tradition is
difficult to explain. Clearly originating from pagan roots, many countries
participated in seasonal celebrations, many of which took place during the
winter solstice. Centuries of elf traditions merged with the traditions of
Christmas.
The association of Santa Claus with elves could
well be linked from the phrasing of Clement Moore’s 1823 poem, “A Visit from
St. Nicholas,” better known today as “The Night Before Christmas.” That poem
refers to Santa Claus as a “right jolly old elf.”
Godey's Ladies Book
Harper's Weekly
Louisa May Alcott later wrote a book that was
called “Christmas Elves” and a popular publication of the times, Godey’s Ladies
Book published art work of Santa and his tiny elves. During the 19th
Century, many writers were inspired by the elf link to Christmas. In 1857,
Harper’s Weekly published a poem called “The Wonders of Santa Claus,” which
tells of the elves working for Santa and making toys and sugar plums to fill
children’s stockings.
The trademarked “Elf on a Shelf” started in 2005
when author Carol Aebersold self-published a tale of a little elf sent by Santa
to report on children’s behavior leading up to Christmas.
Although Santa Claus will always hold top billing,
in the USA, Canada, and Great Britain, diminutive elves clad in green and red also
add to the magic of children’s Christmas traditions.
