Christmas is a time full of magic, lights, aromas and, of course, of traditions that make children live this period with a unique illusion. Among those traditions, one of the most beloved and that has gained a tremendous boom in recent years is the figure of the Christmas elf, a small assistant from Santa Claus who sneaks into homes to spy on the behavior of the little ones and make sure that they behave well before the arrival of gifts. But beyond its function of "spy", the Christmas elf has become a protagonist of great trasses that, far from being malicious mischief, add up to Christmas and generate fun moments for the whole family.
Where does the Christmas elf tradition come from?
The Christmas elf tradition has their origins in the Nordic and Germanic culture, where there were various legends about small magical beings, such as the "Tomte" or "Nisse", who took care of the houses and farms, bringing luck or, sometimes, mischief if they were not treated well. However, the most modern and popular version of the Christmas Elf was born in the United States in 2005 thanks to the book "The Elf on the Shelf" by Carol Aebersold and Chanda Bell. This book presented the Elf as a mischievous being traveling from the north pole every night to observe the actions of the children and then inform Santa Claus about his behavior.
Over time, this tradition extended worldwide and, in many homes, parents have begun to adapt to the elf to give their children an even more magical and fun experience. Thus, it gave rise to the famous caps of the Christmas elf, which parents prepare every night, with the aim of surprising their children and surprising them in the morning.
Ideas to create magic: Elf mischief
The Christmas elf not only limits himself to a shelf or sitting in a corner of the house, his true goal is to surprise the little ones in the house with funny pranks that encourage emotion and laughter throughout the Christmas season.
Here we leave you a small list with some of the most original ideas we have seen:
1- The Elf in the fridge: One of the classics is to make the elf remain all night in the fridge as if he are drinking a glass of milk or eat the sweets. Sometimes, some parents have placed a small note in which he says: "But, who has left the fridge open?"
2. The Elf in the bathroom: The elf can be placed inside the bath cup or with a toilet paper wounded throughout the room as if they were playing with the paper or preparing to make a great mischief.
3. The elf and sugar: Another pranus of the elf consists of placing it in a sugar bowl with a small message that says: help, I have been caught in the sugar! In addition, you can place some sugar scattered on the ground.
4. The elf “flying”: With fishing thread, you can place the elf suspended in the air, as if it were flying around the house. This mischief can be accompanied by a letter in which he explains to the little ones that his flight skills are practicing.
5. The Elf Painter: He places the elf surrounded by pencils or paintings and a sheet, as if he were painting. Sometimes, the elf leaves small messages or "drawings" for children.
These little jokes are not only fun moments for children, but also help create a special environment and loaded with emotion during parties. Through these gestures, parents can get Christmas magic to last, while growing the imagination and sense of astonishment in the little ones.
The importance of Christmas magic
The magic of Christmas is built with small details and, the crossing of the Christmas elf are one of the most endearing ways of keeping that Christmas spark alive.
On many occasions, elf mischief may seem a simple joke, they are actually much more than that: they are a way to strengthen family ties and create memories that will last for years.
In addition, the jokes of the elf help parents actively involve themselves in Christmas experience with their children, generating expectations, laughs and, of course, a little mystery. Children, although they enjoy the Christmas spirit in general, feel especially excited by the “mischief” of the elf, hoping to see what new elf adventure will surprise them the next day.
In summary, it can be said that Christmas pranks not only rejoice the mornings of the little ones, but also allow parents to live Christmas in a fun and fantasy way. This tradition, which began as a simple way of spying on children, has evolved to become a more creative way to foster Christmas magic at home.
