Elf on a Shelf - Creepy Creature or Cute Custom?

It's December 1st!!  There are just 24 shopping days left before Christmas.  The malls are bustling and children are making lists for Santa.  Of course, as tradition goes, Santa only brings toys to those who've been good.  Who monitors this behavior for Santa?  Parents?  Teachers?  Maybe, but many people purchase "Elf on a Shelf," a little elf figurine with an accompanying book that notes the elf should be placed on a shelf to keep watch over the children and he/she will report back to Santa on the little ones behavior.

We stocked these figures and the books in our Borders for years and we always sold out of them.  I always found the figurine and the concept downright creepy.  I polled my BWOBNY colleagues for their thoughts.

My good friend Melanie disagrees my unease with the elf.  She finds him to be cute and adds, "I don't see how it's any creepier than 'He sees you when you're sleeping He knows when you're awake.'  As an adult you find it creepy because you've all seen movies such as Chuckie and Puppet Master, etc where inanimate objects come to life to hurt people. However, Elf on a Shelf is presented to children in a fun, light-hearted manner. He is no more dangerous than the toys in your bedroom."

Maybe but even as a kid, my Cabbage Patch Doll spooked me so much that it was abandoned in a closet until it got banished to the attic.

However, most of the BWOBNY crew finds the elf creepy.

Jess B., "Honestly I think it is weird. Creepy old school looking elf playing nanny cam on children. It gives me the hibbie jibbies just saying."

Jess P., "I do not like him, he is creepy. The last holiday season we were open I remember this little boy crying at the register because his mom was buying one and he was scared that the elf was going to watch him. For the record my new Asst Manager thinks he is creepy too!" 

Rachel, "Not only is it creepy, it's expensive too. I would never spend $29.95 on a weird doll that will probably try to eat me in my sleep."

Rebecca, "The thing that bothers me the most about Elf on a Shelf (and there are many things....) are the double entendres in the descriptions on the box and on the accessories. THAT is what creeps me out the most - for example, on the skirt (which you buy separately) it says something to the effect of - leave this skirt where your elf can see it and she'll slip it on before she heads off for her late night visit with Santa. Granted, kids won't pick up on it, but it totally creepifies the whole thing on a new level."  

Unlike House Elves, this creature doesn't go away when presented with clothes.

Not only do find him creepy, I don't like that the product is designed to intimidate children in behaving well.  It should be enough for parents/guardians to instruct their children to behave properly without the fear of an elf reporting back to Santa.  It's like the elf is an enforcer for Santa's mob or something-not cool.





What do you guys think?  Please share with us! 

Elf on a Shelf: Cute Holiday Tradition or Cross-Dressing Christmas Demon?

As the holidays draw to a close, millions of mothers are hopefully packing away little satanic elves into  boxes for a year long hibernation. For those of you who don't know, I am referring to the Elf on a Shelf: the holiday tradition that consists of placing a small elf doll on various surfaces in a home with children. The elf is supposed to watch the children and report back to Santa. I first learned of this little custom two Christmases ago while working at Borders. Before working there I was blissfully unaware that this little monstrosity existed. (Before you ask, the Elf on a Shelf holiday set goes for $29.95. This includes the doll and a book) I learned that this is just one of the many ways that parents scare and threaten their children into being good for Christmas, and I personally think this is the cruelest method of all. For one, the elf looks like this:

A naive child might be fooled by his rosy cheeks and whimsical outfit, but to me this elf looks as if he is plotting for world domination. If he is reporting back to Santa he's probably telling him your darkest and dirtiest secrets. Can't you see it in his eyes? Do parents really want such a shady character watching over their children? However, his eyes and gigantic cheeks are not the most disturbing part. Parents now have the option of purchasing a holiday skirt for their ... male elf? That's right, you can now take this creepy little doll and enhance that creepiness by dressing him in a skirt. I'm sure you'll all find this Elf a tad more comforting:

I bet you all can't wait to put this little darling on your mantle, right? Also, as you may have noticed, this elf has darker hair, skin, and eyes than the previous elf. This does not make selling these elves any easier. Which elf do you give a customer when they ask for the "normal elf"? Do I assume that a darker skinned person automatically wants a darker skinned elf, and vice versa? This elf not only makes me extremely uncomfortable, but it also makes me a racist. Therefore, I think this is one Christmas custom that needs to be put to rest. Everyone should gather their elves, cement them into their large white boxes, and throw them into the ocean. I think this is the only way to make sure we don't find ourselves with an Elvish revolution on our hands. However, the recent slew of new Elf on a Shelf merchandise, and the rate at which we sold these little jerks, guarantees we will be stuck with this tradition for years to come. I can assure you, though, that my children will not partake in this tomfoolery. I want visions of sugar plums, not nightmares of RuPaul the Elf, to dance in their heads.
~rachelyons