Are Elves Real?

Elves, gnomes and trolls: Fun, fact, folklore and fantasy

Scandinavian folklore reveals some clues about elves in its Father Christmas tradition. Interestingly, elves have been called gnomes, trolls, fairies or even cannibals, over the course of history. (1)

In the western world of fun, fact and fantasy, elves are present in the Santa Claus tradition. (Don't try to tell an elf that he or she is not real, particularly one of Santa's Christmas elves. How would you like to be told that you are not real, especially when you have been working to help Santa make and distribute gifts to children, all over the world? Telling Santa that his elves are not real, might result in an unexpected surprise in your Christmas stocking, like a lump of coal, or a carrot!)

What about elves, gnomes, trolls, fairies and cannibals? Are any of them real, other than in the world of fiction?

Compare these definitions:

Elf:

A small, often mischievous fairy
A small lively creature, especially a mischievous child
A lively mischievous or malicious person

Gnome:

An ageless and often deformed dwarf of folk lore, who lives in the earth and guards precious ores or treasures
An elemental being in the theory of Paraclesus that inhabits earth

Troll:

A dwarf of giant in Teutonic folklore inhabiting caves and hills
A demon

Fairy:

A mythical being of folk lore and romance, usually having diminutive human form and human powers

Cannibal:
One that eats flesh of its own kind (2)

It would appear that whether an elf is considered to be real or not, has more to do with one's perception. 

Note that some of these definitions allow room for an elf to be a person and positive, while others are quite negative.

Consider more Scandinavian folklore.

Historically, Scandinavian gnomes surfaced in the pagan tradition to guard the homes of their benefactors. They were either good or bad, depending upon how they were treated. Some people considered them to be trolls or cannibals.

By the mid 1800's, gnomes were regarded as mischievous fairies, who helped Father Christmas and they are the ones who came to be known as the Christmas elves. They are documented in the writings of Thile, Toplius and Rydberg and the artwork of Hansen and Nystrm. (3)
In the western tradition, the Christmas elves live at the North Pole, with Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus and their reindeer.

In the year 1925, the Scandinavians supposedly discovered that there were no reindeer at the North Pole, but they knew that there were reindeer in Lapland, Finland. The hidden village in which the elves lived, was situated in the Korvatunturi Mountain, located in the Savukoski county of Lapland, near the Finnish-Russian border. The elves traditionally celebrate January sixth as the last day of Christmas and come out their mountain village to play in a field. The rest of the time, they help Father Christmas to design and create toys for children. (4)

The western world's Christmas tradition holds to the fantasy that Santa Claus lives at the North Pole with Mrs. Santa Claus, the elves and their reindeer. Their task is the same. It would appear to be bit of a mixture of eastern and western folklore, to some extent. There is the reality that people perceive others, who may be different, in a way that may cause them to be mocked, ridiculed or made fun of, at times. Some people will introduce an element of humor to this. Fun, fact, folklore and fantasy will continue from generation to generation, but the ultimate, ideal perception is love.

The existence of elves remains somewhat of a mystery, unless one takes into consideration the reality that definitions of elves can include children and adults. In this case, one would have to suggest that elves can be real, at least in a person's imagination.

(1) http://www.didyouknow.cd/xmas/xmaselves.htm

(2) Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc. Springfield, MA, 1983 

(3) http://www.didyouknow.cd/xmas/xmaselves.htm

(4) Ibid.

Creative Ways to Send Letters to Santa Claus

A Christmas letter to Santa Claus, posted on a child's blog

Dear Santa Claus,

How are you and Mrs. Santa?

This year, I am posting my Christmas letter to you, on my blog. My best friend, Kristina, is doing the same thing too. When we asked our teacher, Mrs. Marcy, about whether or not we could do that, she said that we were both old enough to write blogs and that as far as she knew, you always read children's blogs.

I hope that this gets to you, as it is almost the end of November now and Christmas is coming really fast. 

This must be the busiest time of the year for you and all of your elves. You have so much work to do! I don't know how you have time to read all of the letters. I sure hope Mrs. Santa helps you.

I guess she must be a good helper or you would have gotten a divorce by now, like my mom and dad did last year. I am hoping that it was not my fault, but I think it might be, because I heard them fighting over me, one night and then, my mom went away and never came back.

I always thought I would like to be your helper, but now I am not so sure. You might fire me. I think that my dad must have fired my mom, because she did not help him enough.

It must be really cold up there at the North Pole. I hope you have warm mitts and boots.

I write to you every year, Santa, because I know that you hear what I write, even if I cannot talk to you in person. I guess I could, if I asked my dad to take me to the mall. I know you are there, every Saturday morning. But, he might think that I am not very happy with him, so I had better not do that. He might get jealous too, because you are a man. Dads are funny that way, sometimes.

Anyhow, I am getting too big to sit on your knee now, as I am going to be ten, in a few days. I still sit on my dad's knees sometimes, when he is in a good mood.

I wonder if anyone will remember my birthday, this year. Last year, everyone forgot it. I think they all must be getting Alzheimer’s. It seems like everyone gets that nowadays, even kids. That must be some new kind of flu. Is it contagious? I wonder if there is a shot that one can get for it.

This is the way it goes at our house. If I forget to pick up my clothes, I get hollered at. I guess that is not so bad. I am starting to get used to it, but I don't like getting yelled at by my dad.

Maybe he has Alzheimers now too, because he forgets to make his bed, when he gets up. Sometimes, he even forgets to make his lunch and then, I have to take it to where he works. Maybe he does it on purpose, so that he gets to see me in the daytime! Perhaps he is lonesome. He must be, with my mom not being here now.

When I grow up, I really want to be an astronaut. Do you think that is what I should do with my life? I kind of need some expert advice on this. I think that you would know if that was a good occupation for a girl to pursue. A space station is about as far away from this world as anyone can get. Don't take me wrong. I am not unhappy, but sometimes life does not seem fair for kids.

For Christmas, I am not really asking for a lot, but I need some girl's clothes. I hate having to wear boy's t-shirts to school, all the time. My dad does not seem to be too with it, that way. I guess that does not matter too much, but my friend Kristina, always wears girls clothes.

Don't get me wrong, I love my dad. He takes good care of me, but girls are girls and he is a guy. He likes to make me look like a tomboy. Maybe that is because he wanted a boy and not a girl?

I really am a bit old for dolls now, but I do like girl's computer games. Even one would be just fine. I know that money is really tight everywhere, this year. You have to come up with so many toys, I will understand if you can't bring me one.

Santa, if you are not able to do that, but you can get my mom and dad back together over Christmas, that would work for me, too. Things are just so different, now that they are apart. Secretly, I think that they might want to get back together, but maybe they are afraid to try again.

I get tired of doing the dishes, all of the time. My dad does not do dishes. He says that is girl stuff. Maybe that is why my mom did not stay? Do you think that she got tired of doing dishes, too?

My dog Trix, needs a new collar, Santa. If you don't have one for her, maybe I can make one for her. She is such a good dog!

My dad really needs a present too, but I am not sure that he deserves one, this year. I guess everyone should have a present, even if they have not been 100% good all year. His wallet is starting to fall apart.

If you know where my mom is, could she have a present too? She always liked big hats.

Maybe you could tell her that I still love her, even though she went away. Please do that for me.

Well, Santa, that is all I am going to ask you for, this year. Give Rudolph an extra lump of sugar, for me. I will make some chocolate cookies for you and leave them on the table. There will be a glass of cold milk there for you, too.

Your friend,

Samantha

P.S. Could Kristina, have a girl's computer game, too? Then, we could trade back and forth. I put her picture on my blog yesterday. If you want to take a look at it, I am the one wearing the baseball cap and the jean jacket.

Essential Elements to Consider When Writing Children's Stories

The life factor: Making your character come alive in a children’s story

"He is real!" a child might say. "He is alive!" another child might respond. 

Pierre, the Partridge, does not exist yet, but he could be brought in to existence in the mind of a child, if the essential elements are present when a children's author writes a story about him.

"I love him!" should be a child's ultimate response to the story.

Fantasy, fun and fiction are three of the many elements to consider, when writing a children's story, about Pierre the Partridge. Beyond that, there is the element of life depicted by action and adventure. Ask yourself this question.

"Is he magical?"

"Is he wonderful?"

What will bring Pierre the Partridge to life, in the mind of a child? In other words, what will make him seem to be alive?

Children have such amazing, vivid imaginations. They are playful, always busy and full of life's energy. That is why they relate to the life factor in stories they read.

Consider the following possibilities with regard to using this line in the introduction to a children's story.

Pierre the Partridge was waiting in line, at the soup factory.

How would you respond to that line? Perhaps this line might be more inviting? A hook will entice a child reader to read on.

"I am really hungry!" said Pierre the Partridge to his friend, as they stood in line at the soup factory.

Which one would you relate to better, if you were the child who was reading the story?

The first line may not have any meaning or significance, to a child who does not relate to the concept of a soup factory. The second line brings the story to life and makes it alive to the child reader. What child is there who cannot relate to being hungry? It does not matter what a soup factory is, at this point.

"What is Pierre the Partridge doing at the soup factory?" an astute child might ask.

You may have already lost your child reader, if you used the first line in the introduction. If that happens, it does not matter what you write beyond that. The child may not read the story. You have probably caught his or her attention, if you used the second line.

Now write the next line in the story.

"I wonder what's on the menu today."

"Pierre, this is not a place where you get a free lunch!"

If your child reader does not know what a menu is, the first line will have little or no meaning to him or her. 

Immediate action brings the second line to life. Lunch is a word that every child can relate to and it ties into the beginning of the story, if you used the second line there initially.

Now add another line in the story.

"I don't know," said Pierre, patiently.

Pierre shook with fear, as his friend whispered, "We have to get out of here because we are the lunch!"

Here, the child would be bored with the first line. He or she might decide to move on or find something else to read. The second line puts life, emotion and action into the story. An emotional trigger brings a story to life. A sense of urgency excites the child reader to read on.

So read on, children's story critic.

"I am getting tired of waiting."

"Pierre, you have to fly away as fast as you can, right now!"

The first line might put your child to sleep, but that may not be what you wanted to see happening, particularly if your child is learning to read. The second line opens up definitive action. Children can relate to birds flying away, when they are frightened by something.

"Is it going to be much longer?"

"Fly to the pear tree!"

The first line is like waiting for the story to restart. The second line gives a distinct directive to the main character. It tells Pierre the Partridge exactly what to do, without revealing the identity of the second character. This line depicts a live voice with a positive, authoritative, escape plan for Pierre the Partridge. 

Children can relate to directions and to birds escaping or being rescued, in some way.

"The line is finally starting to move."

"Goodbye, I am really going to miss you, Timothy the Turkey."

Here the first line begins the story. The second line could depict the end of the story. That is the difference.

Meanwhile, the child reader is left to decide what happened or will happen to Timothy the Turkey. He or she will recognize the reality that Pierre the Partridge is probably safe in the pear tree.

"A Partridge in a Pear Tree" Does that title sound familiar to you? Maybe Pierre the Partridge goes back to rescue Timothy the Turkey, from the soup line, later? Who knows?

Did Pierre the Partridge, come alive in this children's story for you? His story has the essential elements needed to interest the child-reader-in-you, too. He will come alive for your child, as long as the story that you tell him or her follows the second line, all the way through. Put it all together.

Pierre the Partridge

"I am really hungry!" said Pierre the Partridge to his friend, as he stood in line at the soup factory.

"Pierre, this is not a place where you get a free lunch!"

Pierre shook with fear, as his friend whispered, "We have to get out of here because we are the lunch!"

"Pierre, you have to fly away as fast as you can, right now!"

"Fly to the pear tree!"

"Goodbye, I am really going to miss you, Timothy the Turkey."