Monday, January 20, 2014

Exposé: The Elf On The Shelf Is NOT A "New" Trend

The Elf on the Shelf thing was freakin' everywhere this past Christmas season.  One could not go on twitter without some mommytweep sending out daily updates on what her precious little elfie had done for her children.  And pinterest was deluged by images of naughty elves pooping chocolate chips, hanging from lights, and riding stuffed animals.  Then bloggers took sides for and against the elf.  Was it a charming new tradition?  Or did it cause extra stress for parents and keep kids focused on receiving gifts?

NOTE: For those of you who've been under a rock avoiding Christmas and are just now emerging, let me explain that Elf on the Shelf is an overpriced book + toy elf combo that is making the author rich as people buy, buy, buy it.  The idea is that the elf is not to be touched by children, but that it reports back to Santa every night about the kids' behavior and then is "magically" in a new spot each morning.  It also means that parents must come up with some 2 dozen new things for the elf to do every single Christmas season.  And now they're selling birthday stuff for the elf, so they can make MORE money kids can enjoy the elf even more!  *rolls eyes*

So, here's the basic elf (image pulled from a yahoo search):


But here's the thing: the Elf on a Shelf is NOT new.  In fact, not even the style, size, facial features, etc. of the elf are new.   They're all freakin' copied from a 1950s fad.
Don't believe me?  No problem.  I have proof.

Here's our family's elf, purchased before I was born.  No, my folks never moved him around or such; he just sat on the shelf or got played with.  But check out the face and the eyes.  See what I mean?  Whoever created the new toy copied this old version way too closely for copyright issues.  I certainly hope they bought rights to use that image.
But I seriously think the older version has cuter clothes.  Look at the little boots and the pompon buttons!  And he has a striped union suit on!  So much cuter than the new one, which has stumps instead of feet.

There you have it.  Elf on the shelf is NOT new.  Not by a long shot.
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6 comments:

  1. Max SartinJanuary 20, 2014 at 9:08 AM

    What? And I thought I was one of the first when I was moving my elf all around the house this Christmas season. Sure, burst my bubble.
    Ok, ok, I lied. The only Christmas tradition I participate in is getting together with family for a big dinner.

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    1. Lisa ShaferJanuary 20, 2014 at 12:05 PM

      I'm sure your cats would've enjoyed batting a small elf about. :)

      Delete
    2. Max SartinJanuary 20, 2014 at 12:31 PM

      True, I wouldn't have had to move it at all. They would have, though I might not have been able to find it.

      Delete
  2. 21 WitsJanuary 20, 2014 at 2:06 PM

    I know. my daughter and both of my daughter-in-laws did the same thing for their children. Not so much posting on FB but they did text me with the really cool ones. This was the first year that it went too far, on my Facebook, and Twitter world. But, I liked it. Funny thing too, I have an elf that I hide, from years back in my childhood, and he's smaller, and hides all year long. If I don't hid Scooby for the I spy game. Nothing too silly or stupid. But I must admit, my girl's did get the attention of older siblings, that were actually excited to see where is Chippy, Ellie or Princess? It was more about silliness, then even presents, as it actually got them into discovering, elves in iceboxes, or having toilet paper races down three flights of stairs with Batman. and other fun tricks. Thank goodness, some mothers can sew new elves, and Target sold a cheaper version. But guess what I saw at Barnes after Christmas? You can buy a new birthday book that comes with a birthday outfit for your Elf!

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    Replies
    1. Lisa ShaferJanuary 20, 2014 at 5:15 PM

      Yeah, I did notice the birthday stuff.
      I don't think there's anything wrong with the whole tradition, although I am a bit sick of hearing about it. But I am really, really tired of folks saying the author made it up, or that the whole thing started in 2005. No, the author wrote a rhyming story book, and someone -- I hope with permission -- started re-making the elves, based on the 1950s design.

      Delete
  3. 21 WitsJanuary 21, 2014 at 3:17 PM

    I know, I hope so too, because many of the younger mothers think it all started with this recent author! So not the case.

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