Santa, Elves and Christmas

The Elf on a Shelf tradition began in 2010 by visionary Chanda Bell and her mother, Carol Abersold, and is now a thriving company ran by the entire family when Chanda’s twin sister, Christa Pitts joined the team as business manager.

Santa, evidently, sends out scout elves to keep an eye on things around the world to help manage the naughty and nice list. In the three short years since its inception, the internet has exploded with photos and blog posts of the antics of these elves. Each elf operates off Christmas magic. When adopted, they are able to watch over a family. When all in the house are asleep, this elf flies back to the North Pole and reports to Santa the events of the day. When he or she returns they land in a different spot and the children awake to a game of hide and seek. There are 2 rules which accompany each elf. He or she cannot be touched, or they will lose their magic, and they cannot return to the North Pole if any in the house are still awake.

Search the internet for ‘Elf on a Shelf’ and you will be inundated with ideas and hilarious stories of all the things these little elves get into, as well as the children with whom they live. These elves’ careers have boomed…they even have a feature-length film.

What does this have to do with faith? Well, for people of faith, pretty much everything should be a matter of faith. Romans 12:1-2 reminds us that our everyday, ordinary lives…every part of it…should be an offering to God. So when the secular world claims Christmas and Santa as their own, we know better. Santa’s roots are roots of faith. His story begins with St. Nicholas, former Bishop of Myra. His living his everyday life as an act of faith by helping and serving the poor is what lead to the church proclaiming him Saint and eventually into his story becoming one of legend…crossing every geographical barrier and racial distinction throughout time.

So, celebrate your holiday with Santa and maybe even an Elf on the Shelf, but remember to live and teach these traditions as acts of faith. Let your children know what motivated Santa and remind them the true meaning of the season is anticipation and celebration of Jesus’ birth…God dwelling among us for all time…the greatest gift should never be sealed in the box we call church or wrapped up tightly in colorful paper and ribbons, but shared freely with all whom we encounter throughout the year.

(The scriptural insights behind this article were originally shared by Kristy Robinson Horine.)

Blessings,
Tracy