An elf door is a tiny door you put on the wall or against the baseboard before Christmas. In Finland, a tonttu, a Christmas elf, lives behind it and keeps an eye on how the kids in the house are doing all December. The door doesn't open. The elf only uses it when nobody is looking.
When does the elf door go up?
Many families put the door up on the first Sunday of Advent, which this year is November 29. Others wait until December 1. The elf leaves on Christmas Eve, when Santa comes.
Plan the start ahead. The door is the most fun when it appears overnight, out of nowhere.
How do you make an elf door?
You can buy one, but a homemade door is just as good. Any of these will do:
- Popsicle sticks: glue the sticks side by side with two across. Paint the door red or brown.
- Cardboard: cut a door from a shoebox lid and draw on the boards and a handle.
- A matchbox: it becomes the elf's mailbox next to the door.
You can add a tiny rug, a ladder or a lantern in front of the door. A tiny bowl of porridge is the traditional Finnish touch.
What does the elf do in December?
The elf's main job is keeping the kids in a good mood. Small things are enough, and something doesn't have to happen every day.
- The elf leaves a note about what it's been up to.
- Tiny footprints show up in flour on the kitchen table.
- The socks are tied in knots in the morning.
- The toys sit in a row like they're at school.
- The elf has borrowed a stuffed animal and left a thank-you note.
- The porridge bowl is empty and the spoon is on the floor.
- The elf has turned every chair the wrong way round.
What goes in a note from the elf?
Short and silly works best. Write in tiny handwriting on a tiny piece of paper. The elf can say what it's been doing, praise your child for something specific or leave a task: "Draw me a picture of the Christmas tree. I'll pick it up tomorrow night."
Praise what your child does, and never use the elf to scare. The elf isn't watching for mistakes. It's a friend of the house.
Does the elf have to bring presents?
No. Many families keep the elf's tricks free of gifts and leave the presents to Santa. If you want small surprises, an activity advent calendar pairs well with the elf door.
Print these too: Christmas coloring pages.
The elf can deliver letters too: printable letter to Santa.
For parents
Ayaka is a Finnish multivitamin for children over 3. Your child decorates their own jar, so the vitamin moment becomes their own thing. A refill comes through the letterbox once a month. See the starter pack
