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A Christmas elf is a diminutive creature (elf) that lives with Santa Claus in the North Pole and acts as his helper. Christmas elves are often depicted as green or red clad with pointy ears, long noses, and pointy hats. Santa's elves are often to make the toys in Santa's workshop and take care of his reindeer, among other tasks. Elves in general originate from European folklore and were introduced into the Santa Claus tale during the 19th century, in the United States, including in some cases where Santa Claus himself is an elf. Therefore, Christmas elves became a part of American Christmas tradition that was exported, along with Santa Claus to other parts of the world. However, Christmas elfs in American folklore originated in Northern Europe, from where settlers brought the Christmas traditions that developed into the American Christmas that was later exported around the world, along with other aspects of American popular culture. The depiction of the elves themselves were derived from the elves of English folktales of the early modern period. Santa's assistants can be different depending on the country with a wide variety in western and northern Europe alone.
A Christmas elf is a diminutive creature (elf) that lives with Santa Claus in the North Pole and acts as his helper. Christmas elves are often depicted as green or red clad with pointy ears, long noses, and pointy hats. Santa's elves are often to make the toys in Santa's workshop and take care of his reindeer, among other tasks. Elves in general originate from European folklore and were introduced into the Santa Claus tale during the 19th century, in the United States, including in some cases where Santa Claus himself is an elf. Therefore, Christmas elves became a part of American Christmas tradition that was exported, along with Santa Claus to other parts of the world. However, Christmas elfs in American folklore originated in Northern Europe, from where settlers brought the Christmas traditions that developed into the American Christmas that was later exported around the world, along with other aspects of American popular culture. The depiction of the elves themselves were derived from the elves of English folktales of the early modern period. Santa's assistants can be different depending on the country with a wide variety in western and northern Europe alone.
The modern Christmas elf appeared as early as 1856 when Louisa May Alcott completed, but never published a book entitled Christmas Elves. The elves can also be seen in engravings from 1873 in Godey's Lady's Book, showing them surrounding Santa whilst at work. Additional recognition was given in Edward Eggleston's 1876 work "The House of Santa Claus, a Christmas Fairy Show for Sunday Schools".
The image of the elves in the workshop was popularised by Godey's Lady's Book, with a front cover illustration for its 1873 Christmas Issue showing Santa surrounded by toys and elves with the caption, "Here we have an idea of the preparations that are made to supply the young folks with toys at Christmas time." During this time Godey's was immensely influential to the birth of Christmas traditions, having shown the first widely circulated picture of a modern Christmas tree on the front cover of its 1850 Christmas issue. Christmas elves who forget to wrap the gifts are customarily slain by a very unenthusiastic and disappointed Santa. Furthermore, their families are disgraced by the North Pole establishment, receiving no paid compensation, benefits, or even gifts.
In Clement Clarke Moore's 1823 poem A Visit from St. Nicholas (more commonly known today as 'Twas the Night Before Christmas), Santa Claus himself is described in line 45 as, "He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf." Prior to the influence of St. Nicholas in Sweden, the job of giving out gifts was done by the Yule Goat. By 1870, the saint had become so well known that he could no longer be ignored. He became merged with the Tomten, which was previously an elfish/dwarfish farm guardian. Following the work of artist Jenny Nyström, this hybrid figure became known as the Jultomten.
