Elf on the shelf: the magic is about to return! Are you ready to host the nice (and mischievous) elves at home?

The Christmas period represents a magical and exciting moment for adults and children, around which various customs revolve. Among these, one of the most loved is undoubtedly the American tradition which takes its name “Elf on the Shelf” and which has acquired great popularity in our country in recent years. If from tomorrow you see social media filled with photos of cute elves scattered around the house, now you know why.

Curious to find out how this elfmania was born and, above all, how to welcome an elf into your home and entertain the children?

The origins of the tradition

The story of the elf on the shelf has its roots in Nordic and Germanic tradition, according to which these magical creatures were Santa Claus’ faithful helpers. But it was in 2005 that this custom took the form we know today, thanks to the book “The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition,” written by Carol Aebersold and her daughter Chanda Bell (whose most famous Italian adaptation is “Let the magic begin: attention elf coming!” by Martina Caterino and Monica Pezzoli).

The volume, accompanied by a toy elf to involve the whole family in the game, tells the story of an elf who is sent into homes by Santa Claus on December 1st to supervise children during the Christmas period and report whether they have been good or bad. Every day the creature remains still – for example among the books placed on a shelf – to analyze the children’s behavior and then return to the North Pole at night and tell what it has seen. Upon his return, however, the elf will be found in another part of the house.

When no one sees him, the elf gets up to pranks and mischief, creates mess around and leaves mysterious messages to be deciphered.

How to welcome an elf into your home

Welcoming an elf into your home is a fun way to stimulate children’s imagination and keep them entertained in view of Christmas. Here’s how to do it:

1. The first step is to “adopt” one or more elves. You can opt for one of the many versions of the puppet available on the market or, if you know how to sew or knit, you can create a personalized one.
2. Once the elf arrives home on the night between November 30th and December 1st, it is important to give him a name. This helps bond with children and makes the experience more personal and fun.
3. Moving the elf at night: the elf does not move during the day, but every night, after the children go to bed, parents can move the elf to a different part of the house: among the baubles on the Christmas tree, on the fridge, on a chair or in the most disparate places. So, in the morning the children will have fun looking for him and discovering what trouble he got into during the night.
4. Make the experience more dynamic: you can leave messages or simple tasks for the elf to perform, such as reminding children to be kind or to help around the house so that Santa Claus can be satisfied with their behavior.

The rules to be respected

The Elf on the shelf tradition has a series of rules to follow, namely:

Why host elves in your home

This tradition has several positive aspects:

• Stimulates children’s imagination and wonder
• Create fun family moments
• It offers a shared experience that strengthens family bonds

How to make and activate the elven door

The elf shows up at the house unexpectedly on December 1st, bringing with him a identity card in which his name and origin are indicated. In order not to be caught unprepared, in the days before his arrival it is necessary to create an elven door, a magical portal that connects the North Pole and the children’s home which will be supervised by the children.

The elf door can be purchased online or in shops that sell Christmas decorations, but you can prepare it using clay, salt dough or recycled materials, such as cardboard and wood. To make it more beautiful and colourful, use decorations and add a small letterbox. Attach the door to a wall to create an enchanted corner!

But how is the door activated? To do this, the children must recite this magic formula:

Stardust, Christmas dust, soon bring the apprentice Elf!
White is Santa’s beard, white is the snow on his boot!
I believe it, today and forever, magic is about to return…
White and pure be my heart!
The little door opens, the elf comes back and it’s almost Christmas

Ready to make room for your naughty elf? Let the magic begin!