Christmas Elf

In American folklore, a Christmas elf is a diminutive creature (elf) that lives with Santa Claus in the North Pole and acts as his helper. Christmas elves are often depicted as green or red clad with pointy ears, long noses, and pointy hats. Santa's elves are often said to make the toys in Santa's workshop and take care of his reindeer, among other tasks.

They were first introduced by Louisa May Alcott in 1856. The Santa Claus character is somewhat older, emerging in US folklore in the early 19th century from an amalgamation of various European Christmas traditions, especially from English Father Christmas and Dutch Sinterklaas. The association of Christmas presents with elves has precedents in the first half of the 19th century with the Tomte in Scandinavia, and Father Christmas himself was identified as an elf in A Visit from St. Nicholas (1823).