How Did Elfing Around® Originate?

I would love to say that I am so creative that I came up with the idea of magical visiting Christmas elves. Unfortunately, no one can claim that title. In Norway, Denmark, Germany and Iceland this tradition dates back before the birth of Christ. I have based the Elfing Around® elves on this folklore, and then added a few current-day “necessities”.

FOLKLORE:

The Elfing Around® elves are based mostly on Norwegian traditions, because that’s my heritage and that’s what I know best. In Norway, elves are called “nisse.” The nisse are possibly the best known creatures in Norwegian folklore. The nisse tend to be shy around humans and only emerge to play harmless tricks on people. “Documentation” shows that the nisse come out for a 12-day period during the Christmas season. The nisse would visit a certain farm during those 12 days (1). “If the nisse was treated kindly by the people on that farm he would remain there for the full 12 days. If the nisse was not treated kindly he would disappear as suddenly as he came.” (2) This is why our adventure was created for the 12 days before Christmas.
The nisse are known to be dressed in blue or gray and have very playful personalities. Our elves are dressed in blue and wear long farmer caps, just as folklore has told us. The caps resemble Santa’s hat, but without the pompon. The boy elf wears suspenders to hold up his knickers.
In addition, some Scandinavian countries believe Santa’s workshop is not at the North Pole – but in Lapland, Finland. This is because there are not many reindeer at the North Pole, but there is an abundance in Lapland. “It is believed that it took as many as 100 years to finally make the huge workshop for Santa where millions of presents and toys were to be built every year for all the good children throughout the world.” (3) Accordingly, our Elf Introduction Letter (to the child regarding their special elf) is from Herbie Elf, Jr., CEO of Lapland Toy Company!
“The number of elves believed to assist Santa varies from 6 to 9 to 13 to an unlimited number. The popular western names and jobs are:
1. Alabaster Snowball – Administrator of the Naughty and Nice list.
2. Bushy Evergreen – Inventor of Magic toy-making machine.
3. Pepper Minstix – Guardian of the secret of where Father Christmas’s (sic) village is located.
4. Shinny Upatree – The oldest friend of Santa and the co=founder of the secret village in Lapland.
5. Sugarplum Mary – Head of the sweet treats, she is also known as Mary Christmas. She is an assistant to Mrs. Claus and helps her in the kitchen.
6. Wunorse Openslae – Designer of Father Christmas’s (sic) sleigh and responsible for its maintenance. He also looks after the reindeer and it’s believed that his reindeer reach speeds faster than Christmas lights.” (4)

Based on this information, the Elfing Around® elves each have their own names and jobs at the Lapland Toy Company. We have even included some of the traditional names above as elf name choices – Alabaster, Snowball, Evergreen, Pepper, Sugarplum and Merry.

CURRENT DAY NECESSITIES
In 2006, we felt this tradition needed an update. The elf dolls were created. More importantly to Elfing Around® is the unique Parent Adventure Guide Book®. This book is the “magic” behind our tradition and quickly becomes every parents nightly must read! The Adventure Guide Book® gives the parent 12 adventure suggestions (one for each night).

Twelve pre-printed postcards are also provided. The “magic” is creative, fun and done for you. In addition to the Christmas adventure, each child receives a birthday postcard from their elf. If that’s not enough, Elfing Around® also has mini elf adventures to be used during the other holidays. These are great extras and once purchased, you can print them from your home computer – no shipping costs or delivery time.

The Elfing Around® elf adventures have been a work in progress. It has been so fun to combine the folklore + current day = magic. That’s what we’re all about as parents – creating the most magical childhoods possible!