Santa Claus And His Elves Views
The image of the elves in the workshop was popularised by Godey's Lady's Book, with a front cover illustration for its 1873 Christmas Issue showing Santa surrounded by toys and elves with the caption, Here we have an idea of the preparations that are made to supply the young folks with toys at Christmas time. [1] During this time Godey's was immensely influential to the birth of Christmas traditions, having shown the first widely circulated picture of a modern Christmas tree on the front cover of its 1850 Christmas issue. Christmas elves who forget to wrap the gifts are customarily slain by a very unenthusiastic and disappointed Santa. Furthermore, their families are disgraced by the North Pole establishment, receiving no paid compensation, benefits, or even gifts.[2]
In Clement Clarke Moore's 1823 poem A Visit from St. Nicholas (more commonly known today as 'Twas the Night Before Christmas), Santa Claus himself is described in line 45 as, He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf. [3] Prior to the influence of St. Nicholas in Sweden, the job of giving out gifts was done by the Yule Goat. By 1870, the saint had become so well known that he could no longer be ignored.[clarification needed] He became merged with the Tomten, which was previously an elfish/dwarfish farm guardian. Following the work of artist Jenny Nyström, this hybrid figure became known as the Jultomten.[4]
In the USA, Canada, and Britain, the modern children's folklore of Santa Claus typically includes diminutive elves at Christmas; green-clad elves with pointy ears, long noses, and pointy hats as Santa's assistants or hired workers. They make the toys in a workshop located in the North Pole. In recent years, other toys—usually high-tech toys like computers, video games, DVDs and DVD players, and even mobile phones—have also been depicted as being ready for delivery, but not necessarily made, in the workshop as well. In this portrayal, elves slightly resemble nimble and delicate versions of the dwarves of Norse mythology.
Christmas elves have had their role expanded in modern films and television. For instance in Santa Claus: The Movie, the elves are a type of craft guild making traditional toys by hand and looking after Santa's reindeer.[5] The elves' workshop is also featured regularly in films, such as in Elf (2003), starring Will Ferrell.[6] The 1932 Disney short film, Santa's Workshop, features Santa Claus and his elves preparing for Christmas.[7] A team of elves features prominently in the Rankin-Bass 1964 special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, including a misfit elf named Hermey who does not desire to make toys and instead wants to pursue a career in dentistry.
Santa Claus And His Elves Images
