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The modern children’s folklore of Santa Claus (USA, Canada, and Britain) typically includes diminutive, green-clad elves as Santa’s assistants. They wrap Christmas gifts and make toys in a workshop located in the Arctic. In this portrayal, elves slightly resemble nimble and delicate versions of the dwarfs of Norse mythology. However, the elf legends are in fact, even older than Saint Nicholas, the bishop whom Santa Claus was originally based on.
In the Nordic countries where elves have since become associated with Christmas, elves are clad all in red and have long beards and black boots. On Christmas Eve, one must give the elves a bowl of porridge to keep them from playing pranks on you. In Iceland, 13 elves called the Yule lads, from december 12 till Christmas eve, visits homes, a lad each day, for the 13 days, and plays tricks on, as well as leaves presents for the children. (via Wikipedia)
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Posted by Molly Case
on 12/15/2004. Filed under General Fandom, Real Life.
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