Add a Touch of Elf Magic to Your Decor this Christmas

The history of Santa Claus is rooted in stories of a third-century bishop who lived in what we now know as Turkey. Before he was named a saint, Nicholas of Myra dedicated his life to helping the poor.

As Christianity spread through Europe, so did the stories of St. Nicholas’ generosity. The Feast of St. Nicholas became a popular celebration day in Medieval Europe.

Many ancient cultures have stories about mysterious, magical beings that occasionally interact with the human world. The Greeks had their nymphs and satyrs. Ancient Norse mythology speaks of “hidden folk” while brownies and pixies are sprinkled throughout Celtic lore. There is even an elvish figure in Shakespeare’s play, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

In many of these stories, the elves are rarely seen, but may make themselves known by bestowing favors or causing mischief to humans.  

Christmas elves, sometimes shortened to just 'elves', are small, dwarf-like creatures with pointed ears. They live with Santa at the North Pole, making gifts and helping to keep track of the all-important “Naughty and Nice” list.

“The Elves and the Shoemaker,” a Brothers Grimm fairy tale published in 1812, is one of the first modern stories linking elves with Christmas. However, these beings only faintly resemble the cheerful Christmas elves we recognize today, and Santa Claus was not mentioned in the fable.

Many point to Clement Clark Moore’s poem, “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” as a modern Santa origin story. The verse, also known as “The Night Before Christmas,” describes St. Nick as “a jolly old elf” wearing a fur-lined suit. It’s a small leap to assume that if Santa is an elf, his helpers must be elves, too.

In 1857, the popular Harper’s Weekly magazine published an anonymous poem entitled “The Wonders of Santa Claus.” The poem sketches out what we now envision as Santa’s North Pole home and his secret workshop, bustling with industrious elves.

For its 1873 Christmas issue, another popular magazine of the time, Godey's Lady's Book, published a front cover illustration featuring Santa surrounded by tiny elves making toys. In the latter part of the 1800s, Thomas Nast also elaborated on the theme of Santa’s workshop in a series of Christmas illustrations published over 20 years.