Day 5 - Elf on a Shelf

Day 5 - Elf on a Shelf

When Lizzie first introduced this idea, I immediately thought it could be a fun “Elf on the Shelf” event.  Little did I realize that this was a “thing” most notably only in the US.  So, it seems only fair that we share this frivolity with the rest of the world! 

 

The Elf on the Shelf story describes how Santa's "scout Elves" hide in people's homes from Thanksgiving to Christmas to watch over events. Once everyone goes to bed, the scout elf flies back to the North Pole to report to Santa the activities, good and bad, so he knows who is naughty and who is nice. Before the family wakes up each morning, the scout elf flies back from the North Pole and hides. By hiding in a new spot each morning around the house, the scout elf plays an ongoing game of hide and seek with the family.

 

The Elf on the Shelf explains that scout elves get their magic by being named and being loved by a child. When you buy an Elf, your child “adopts” it, giving it a name. Once the elf is named, the scout elf receives its special Christmas magic, which allows it to fly to and from the North Pole.  However, children are reminded that the magic might disappear if the scout elf is touched but they can speak to it politely and with kindness and tell it all their Christmas wishes so that it can report back to Santa accurately.

 

The story ends on Christmas Day with the Elf returning to the North Pole to stay with Santa for the rest of the year until the following Christmas season.

 

Now you might imagine the sweet fun that comes with a family’s innocent game of “find the elf” each morning and certainly, when this tradition was introduced in 2005, it started out that way.  But like all things, it evolved for some into something more creative, fun, nutty, and, well, sometimes, raunchy and debaucherous. I even went out and purchased one for myself to share with all of my Airbnb family… perhaps if you have your own, you can post pics of your Elf in action here throughout the holiday season. 

 

The following Is a progression and evolution of how this tradition brings “joy” to people every year.

 

In the beginning, the Elf sits quietly and patiently to be found. 

sitting on shelf.JPG

 

But just sitting isn’t enought, he needs to occupy himself with fun activities.

 Give a dog a bone.JPG

 

He starts playing with his other slightly living friends.

snowball fight.JPG

 

Then he starts to get more creative and interacting with his humans more.  

shower elf.JPG

 

And he gets mischievous.

 hair cut.JPG

 

Then he must get bored coming back to the same house over and over or maybe he’s missing his Elf family, but he can’t handle the pain,

drinking elf.JPG

 

gets into fights,

psycho elf.JPG

 

and tries to seduce the ladies. 

(by the way, if you’ve never seen this SNL Digital Short by Adam Samberg and Justin Timberlake, you just must – it makes me laugh every time!)

junk in a box.JPG

 

Sometimes he gets lucky and his moves work.

menage elf.JPG

 

Sometimes he’s REALLY lucky…. Could be all that alcohol but he really has something special ….

pornographer elf instagram.JPG

 

But mostly it’s a fun tradition – either when playing with your kids, goofing around, or using him to fill your Instagram feed.  It’s creative, fun, and indulgent during a time of year where we encourage such things. 

 

So what does my Elf do, you ask? 

 

Well, I never had an Elf before yesterday so I could write this post, and mine is not yet filled with magic.  We’ve adopted a girl Elf and she still needs a name. (Have any suggestions?)

thumbnail_20171204_212847 small.jpg

 

Oh look, there she is now… looks like she’d going to be reporting back to Santa on the entire Airbnb Community Forum. 

 

She’s watching you…

thumbnail_20171205_074326 small.jpg

 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours…. Oh, and of course, Happy Elfing!

Alice & Jeff

 

 

 

 

43 Replies 43
Karen-and-Brian0
Level 10
Bragg Creek, Canada

What a great post @Alice-and-Jeff0!  I love the "rabbit hole" naughty Elf on the Shelf photos & I used to think it was a great idea for keeping the kiddies in check before the big day, but now I wonder ... our little grandson, Jack, is 5 this year, & he seems to be having a little trouble with "Lester", their Elf on the Shelf. Paranoia has set in. He said:  'Does he still watch me when I'm playing in the basement ?' 'What about when we leave the house, did he see me push Tom outside?' 'Does he come into my room when I'm sleeping? Can I have a lock on my door ?

 


- Karen

@Karen-and-Brian0, pretty sure Elves can see you wherever you are... and you n-e-v-e-r k-n-o-w where they will be next...

 

This kind of paranoia is healthy!  The development of a conscience!  (And he already knows what's 'naughty!')

 

Good job!

 

Best,

 

 

Kim
Kelly149
Level 10
Austin, TX

@Alice-and-Jeff0 I've never taken the plunge... I'm already a terrible tooth fairy; I don't need another fictional creature making me look bad all Christmas season.

So, in case it matters to you or anyone else who tries out this tradition.

Here is a suggestion for what to do if you perhaps find that a hidden, all-seeing elf isn't quite all it is cracked up to be for you too...

 

https://www.babble.com/parenting/retired-elf-on-the-shelf/

 

🙂

Oomesh-Kumarsingh0
Level 10
Pamplemousses, Mauritius

@Alice-and-Jeff0 An excellent idea!

Joanne-Flynn0
Level 9
Phoenicia, NY

What a fantastic post @Alice-and-Jeff0!

 

We have an elf on the shelf in our home and now you gave me the idea to put one in our cabin that we airbnb! Fun to see what the guests will do with it.

Lizzie
Former Community Manager
Former Community Manager
London, United Kingdom

Hello @Alice-and-Jeff0@Joanne-Flynn0@Oomesh-Kumarsingh0@Kelly149@Kimberly54@Helga0@Branka-and-Silvia0@Jessica-and-Henry0@Karen-and-Brian0

 

I saw this sign over the weekend and I thought of you all, so I wanted to share it. I am a bit of a pun fan! 🙂

Elf and safety
 


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Branka-and-Silvia0
Level 10
Zagreb, Croatia

so, @Alice-and-Jeff0 did your Elf finally get a name ? 🙂

@Branka-and-Silvia0 - no, not yet.  Not sure that @Lizzie should have an Elf named after her (that'd be as weird as our friends who named their dog "Alice") , but since it's "@" Lizzie and she's the "Admin", maybe our Elf could be named "Addy"?  What do you think? 

@Alice-and-Jeff0

admin+ advent= Addy  🙂

@Alice-and-Jeff0... weird, but fun!

Kim

So I've been capturing our Elf, but failing to post since mostly she's been just popping up in regular places, but this morning, I caught her in here..... 

 

Day 11: 

20171211_100152 (576x1024).jpg 

 

Since I'm playing catch up..... 

Day 6: 20171211_095813 (640x360).jpg

 

Day 7: 

20171211_095837 (379x640).jpg

Day 8: 20171211_095852 (408x640).jpg

 

Day 9: 

20171211_095935 (640x360).jpg

 

Day 10: 

20171211_100101 (640x360).jpg

@Alice-and-Jeff0and all,

 

So this Elf-thing is just cracking me up.  I ordered the book and the girl elf which I now intend to use throughout the year for myself.  Santa is supposed to be checking up on us all year, right?  Well there are a few things that I might be doing a little better at...

 

(BTW, it's on back-order... won't have it until next Monday, so I'll have to get away with all of the naughties before then!

 

Best,

Kim

Day 12 -  Addy the Elf going for the Krupnikas.   

 

20171212_064859 (360x640).jpg