Does Santa have elves or gnomes?

[Anaughtybear]

I was just wondering if anyone else has thought of this - Those guys that make toys for Santa look a whole lot more like gnomes than elves. They are tiny, they dress poorly, and they like to build stuff. Sounds like gnomes to me. Maybe we could start a petition to have that changed.

 

[tooshy]

Well this is a good question! When I think of christmas and Santa I always think of elves as being his helpers. BUT.. if you look at Elves from a fantasy POV, then it just doesn\'t make sense. Are Santa\'s elves stunted - did they just never grow up ??? Gnomes don\'t seem a right description either - I think of them being all knobbly and old, but Santa\'s elves are cute. OMG I\'m just sooo confused now :duh: :wow:

 

[Chrispy]

Most of Santa\'s traditions come from Norse and Germaninc ones: Norwegians use Reindeer all the time, Christmas trees are German in origin. That being said, in original Norse mythology, when the Gods were making the world, they made it from the leftovers of this giant Ymir. From the worms that crawled through it, they mad the elves. Their were the Light elves which is what we usually think of the Tolkien Elves: fair, spiritual, beautiful. But the Dark elves were actually small, dwarf like and had long noses. Another possibility is the Julenisse, which is actually more akin to a dwarf, but is sometime regarded as a small troll. They all look like what we typically think Santa\'s elves look like, gnomish faces, rosey cheeck and a look red stoking cap. Their role in folklore is also similair, if you give it porridge on Christmas day it will keep the house warm and the livestock happy which kinda mimmicks Santa and cookies.

I want some presents now!!

 

[Fizl]

I think you guys all have too much time on your hands right now if you are thinking about Santa and his Elves in June!

BTW, I think gnomes when i consider Santa\'s helpers, eve if they are called elves!

Shaz

 

[tooshy]

Dear Father Christmas

Chrispy, \"I want\" never gets - I thought you would know that! Now be a nice boy and if you behave yourself between now and Christmas you may get some nice presents. Don\'t forget to do your letter to Santa too, just so he knows what you want

@Fizl - its never too early to talk about Christmas!!! WOOHOO roll on December - ooooooh I\'m soooooo excited now :bouncy: :flip: :bouncy: :flip: :bouncy:

 

[Flashman14]

The answer is really simple: the elves from D&D, RPG games and GW and all that are made up. Wheras the Santa elves are REAL!!! lol

 

[TAB Studio]

My goodness I never thought I would hear this debate other than at home.

I have been enlightened by my mate that Santa has gnomes. I am told the Elves would not go for Santa\'s work ethic nor do they tinker quite as well. It just would not be they are too aloof. After I giggle, I normally get the hooty who look.

 

[Fizl]

Flashman, of course you have the gist of it! Santa and his elves are the real thing

Tooshy - I lurve xmas, but if I start getting excited about it now, I will be completely unbearable by August let alone decemeber

Shaz

 

[praetorian0_1]

lost in translation

...you know what happens when a fable is translated accross languages... I guess maybe that whatever language didn\'t have a proper name for gnomes- so the closest thing they had was elf. Besides: Like any elf would let himself go like that santa pig- they\'re all like totally bulemic dontchaknowlol

 

[finn17]

Pssssstttt.......

......Santa actually made all his little helpers redundant ages ago.....

......He now has a big factory in China.....

.....and his little helpers are now big helpers who all receive the statutory minimum wage....for China

ps isn\'t it interesting how Santa is an anagram of Satan Watch out all you dyslexics out there...:innocent:

 

[tooshy]

HOW DARE YOU......

There is no need to panic - Santa is doing just fine. He didn\'t sell out, he still has elves and he\'s....he\'s.... busy making all our lovely presents. And he\'s nothing to do with \"that place down there\"

Shame on you Mr Finn!

 

[Dragonsreach]

I weep for the species!

 

[Chrispy]

(to the tune of Black Sabbath\'s \"Iron Man\"):

I AM SANTA CLAUS!!!!

Flying through the snow,
Can you hear him? Ho! Ho! Ho!
He\'s so full of cheer:
Only has to work one day a year.

Children in their beds,
Visions of sugarplums fill their heads.
So many kids out there,
Santa must be a billionaire!

Red suit, boots of black.
Big sack of toys hangin\' off his back.
How much does he weigh?
How do the reindeer pull his sleigh?
No body sees him, as he travels the world,
Leaving his presents, for the good boys and girls.

Sees every move you make,
Better be good for goodness\' sake.
Leave him cookies with cheer,
He\'ll be back to your house first next year.

Hello Cleveland!!

 

[wiccanpony]

do not besmirch the good name of Santa!

Dear Santa..they know not what they say......

p.s. I\'ve been a very gooooooood girl :innocent:

do Santa\'s helpers have a \"Union\"? ???

 

[Day]

Well, since I\'m a finn and as everyone knows, Santa Claus lives in finland, I _must_ reply to this. Do not believe the false prophets, Finland is the one and only home of Santa Claus!

Anyhow, in Finnish folklore the santa\'s little helpers are more like gnomes than elves. We use the word \"tonttu\", which can mean both \"gnome\" and \"elf\" (alhough the most common translation seems to be \"elf\", which is a bit misleading of course). I\'d call them gnomes, not elves, since they sometimes have beards and all that.

 

[supervike]

hmm...

Originally posted by Day
... We use the word \"tonttu\", which can mean both \"gnome\" and \"elf\" (alhough the most common translation seems to be \"elf\", which is a bit misleading of course).

So the Lone Rangers Indian friend is an elf.....This thread is just too confusing for me!!

lol???lol

 

[UncleHex]

Originally posted by supervike
.....This thread is just too confusing for me!!

Mmmm......maybe this thread could use a Sanity Clause. lol

 

[finn17]

Hehehe

Originally posted by UncleHex
Mmmm......maybe this thread could use a Sanity Clause. lol

Wasn\'t this a GW limited edition back in the 80\'s? No, really, I have a couple somewhere....

 

[Fizl]

Sanity Claus

Yes it was, I think either myself or my brother have ne floating about somewhere

Shaz

 

[Braveheart712]

Originally posted by Anaughtybear
Does Santa have elves or gnomes ?

Finally a question worth answering and a topic worth posting!! It definitely beats the \"Look at my new mini\" or the \"Scoring here sucks\" topics.

Back to the question, hmm... let me think. Last time I talked with the Easter Bunny I think he told me Santa has elves working there up in the North Pole. Yeah, he said something about them being on strike, seems the Lucky Charms leprechaun came up there, organized a union, now they all have the jolly fat man bent over a barrel for higher wages, longer breaks, more time off, and better 401k / retirement. I feel bad for the man in red since he is paying out the butt for health and dental, just ask the Tooth Fairy, she will tell you. I sure hope things get resolved soon cause from what I heard the strikebreaking goblins Mr. Claus hired are truly going to ruin Christmas, since everyone knows goblins lack the dextarity and coodination it takes to make good toys. Remeber in the 80\'s when Santa tried using Orcs?? What a mess.....(OK, I\'m rambing)

Drumroll please, the answer is ELVES..after all wasn\'t that movie last Christmas called Elf not Gnome???

\"Of course that is just my opinion, I could be wrong...\" -Dennis Miller