Memories of the Elf on the Shelf are common among students and remind them of favorite Christmas traditions growing up.

With the holiday season in full swing, many WJ students take time to look back on their favorite Christmas traditions from growing up and waiting for Santa. One that stands out is the often more naughty than nice Elf on the Shelf. The small scout elf sent by Santa to keep an eye on kids’ behavior helped create unforgettable memories through pranks, little presents, and pure holiday magic.

“My earliest memory was waking up to find Twinkle in our pantry, hanging from a bag of marshmallows. I think I was five or six,” recalled junior Emma Byrne. “At the time, it was like magic! My little brother and I were on our best behavior because we really thought Twinkle was watching us for Santa.”
For those who don’t know, Elf on the Shelf is a Christmas tradition where a toy elf acts as Santa’s helper by reporting nightly on kids’ behavior to the North Pole. Every morning, the elf reappears in a new spot in the house and has to be found. The elf often pulls funny pranks or sets up creative scenes. Many families also get a book with the elf that explains its magical story to read at bedtime. New accessories like A reindeer and a snow fox companion have made the tradition more exciting. There is also a 2011 movie, The Elf on the Shelf: An Elf’s Story, about this little legendary helper.

Many students have funny and memorable stories about their elves. Junior Sophia Trzcinski shared a great memory about her elf, Jingles. “One time, we woke up to find Jingles had set up a ‘snowball fight’ in our living room. He used marshmallows for snowballs, and all our stuffed animals were lined up on two teams. My mom even joined in the fun and let us have a real marshmallow fight!”

Emma Byrne’s Twinkle also had a mischievous side in addition to being so creative. “One morning, we found Twinkle in my mom’s mixer covered in cookie dough. It was hilarious until we realized he had used up all the dough we needed for baking!”

For sophomore Ryan Kelly, his elf “Buddy” brought more mystery than mischief. “I think I was about eight when we got Buddy. My mom made a big deal about reading the book with me the first night he came, and I was hooked. I believed in him so much that I’d write little notes asking him questions like, ‘What’s it like at the North Pole?’ or ‘Do you know Rudolph?’ I’d find replies the next morning written in this tiny handwriting.” Ryan admitted that Buddy didn’t always stop him from misbehaving. “Honestly, I’d still fight with my sister sometimes, but I’d feel guilty later. I think that’s what Buddy was meant to do, make us think twice.”

Senior Gabi Aloisi’s elf, Justin, named after Justin Bieber, was known for his sweet tooth. “Justin would hide in open bags of chips or in the candy bowl. His favorite was the freezer near the ice cream. I always laugh thinking about how much food he ‘ate’!”

Senior Andrew Conti was left a bit traumatized when his elf Ronaldo, named after his favorite soccer player, went missing. “I loved looking for Ronaldo, and I always made sure to find him bright and early before I went to school. One early school morning, though, he was absolutely nowhere to be found; I looked everywhere for like twenty minutes and eventually started freaking out. My mom couldn’t even find him, which was weird because she usually helped me when I couldn’t. Then, mid freak out, I found him in my dog, Charlie’s, bed. I ran to him and suddenly realized he was missing a leg! I was really mad at Charlie because now Ronaldo could never play soccer again in the North Pole because Charlie had eaten his leg. Now every time Ronaldo comes back, I feel bad for the guy because my dog ruined his life,” Andrew shared.

The Elf on the Shelf has changed over the years with new ideas making the tradition even more fun. Senior Anna Paulus’ sister’s elf, Rosie, brought along a reindeer companion. “Rosie always hides with her reindeer, and my sister loves it. She thought it was so funny when they were found on a zip line hanging across the kitchen,” Anna said.

Senior Kendall Grogan explains that without an elf on the shelf, Christmas would never be the same for her as a kid. “My elf was by far the best Christmas tradition for me, I would wait for it all year. My elf Cheetah always brightened my morning when I would find him. He would leave me candy and notes sometimes, and it made me feel so happy. I would even leave notes for Cheetah to give to Santa so I could talk to him and tell him what I wanted for Christmas. Even as I grow up, when I see Cheetah on the shelf it brings a smile to my face as I remember all our times together. I can’t wait for my future children to have an elf like Cheetah someday,” Kendall Grogan shared with a smile.

Junior Ally Shannon summed it up best: “There’s snow place like home with an elf on the shelf.”