As Christmas approaches, while the tree may still be waiting, the doors of the elves are already opening the curtain to an enchanted world. Rooted in rich Scandinavian and Irish tradition, these little doors have won the hearts of many people around the world, not only for their symbolic value, but also for their undeniable beauty. Let’s discover together the magical universe behind these doors, where fantasy intertwines with Christmas tradition.
Who are the elves?
Elves have been a popular subject in fiction for centuries, from William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, to the fantasy novels of JRR Tolkien 300 years later. Probably the most famous are the elves who work for Santa Claus at the North Pole.
As reported by Livescience, tradition has it that, like fairies, elves are tiny shape-shifting beings. Shakespeare’s elves were winged creatures that lived and moved playfully around flowers. Male elves were described as small elders, while females were young and beautiful. They lived in hidden kingdoms in the heart of forests, in the middle of meadows or in tree trunks.
Elves, fairies and goblins are all closely related in folklore, although elves appear to be derived from Norse or Scandinavian mythology, i.e. the myths belonging to the traditional pre-Christian religion of the Scandinavian peoples.
In the 1500s, people began to incorporate elf folklore into stories and legends about fairies. By the 1800s, fairies and elves were widely considered the same magical creatures but with different names. According to tradition, elves are mischievous and touchy little beings. According to folklorist Carol Rose in her encyclopedia “Spirits, Fairies, Goblins and Goblins” (Norton, 1998), although elves were sometimes friendly towards humans, they were also vengeful towards those who offended them. That’s why they did little pranks.
In centuries past, belief in the existence of fairies and elves was common among adults and children. The belief is still strong in some countries, such as Iceland, where about half of residents believe in elf-like beings known as “huldufolk” (hidden people). Supernatural beliefs are so strong in Iceland that many road construction projects have been delayed or rerouted to avoid disturbing elves’ homes. Iceland’s relevant laws, updated in 2012, argue that all places connected to national faiths, customs or beliefs should be protected for their cultural heritage.
Santa’s little helpers
Modern Christmas tradition holds that a horde of elves are at work year-round in Santa’s workshop at the North Pole, building toys and helping him prepare before his long journey around the world on his sleigh. The image of the elves in Santa’s workshop was popularized by magazines of the mid-1800s.
Godey’s Lady’s Book, an influential magazine, featured an illustration in its 1873 Christmas issue titled “The Workshop of Santa Claus,” showing Santa Claus surrounded by toys and elves. A caption read: “Here we have an idea of the preparations being made to supply young people with toys at Christmas time.”
Door of the elves and door of the fairies
Similar to the fairy door, the elf door is actually typical of the Christmas period. For this reason, even if aesthetically they may seem similar, the decorations are different, purely winter and in any case linked to the world of elves.
It is therefore a variant of fairy doors. The latter appeared for the first time in the United States, in 1993, in the town of Ann Arbor, on the skirting boards of Jonathan and Kathleen Wright. It was Jonathan who invented them for his daughters. In this way, every time the little ones passed in front of the little doors they fantasized, inventing their own original stories.
The symbolic and educational value of the elven door
The doors would connect our house with the kingdom of Santa Claus’s elves. If the children behave well, the elf informs Santa Claus who can bring them the desired gift. These little helpers of Santa Claus, during the holiday season, move behind the walls of the houses, which they access through the little door. Even if they never show up, they leave signs of their presence, a footprint in front of their door or sweets for the children, but also a written message.
In reality, doors are an original way to stimulate creativity in children, a real gateway to the world of fantasy. The elf has the task of helping and supporting children, keeping monsters away, fixing broken toys.
Sometimes they are left all year round in children’s rooms because, according to some, they are helpful, offering a private place to express one’s emotions. When used in this sense, the elf door can be considered a variant of fairy doors.
How to make an elf door
The advice for those who want to make an elf door on their own is to use recycled materials above all. For example, several layers of cardboard can be glued or wood can be used. Once the shape is cut, the decorations can also be found in nature, small pine cones, sheets, twigs. The only limit: your imagination.
You can also make them with salt dough, together with the children, who will also have fun coloring them. Always use natural dyes. There are also garden versions, to be created for example on a vase, on a trunk or inside a wooden box.
Below is a series of video tutorials to make the elf door:
