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Folklore: santa's elves

18 Nov 18 - 07:32 AM (#3962175)
Subject: Folklore: santa's elves
From: GUEST,watcher

We are now well into the season of christmas films and programmes on tv. There always seems to be an abundance of elves helping santa, and usually they are wearing an outfit of a small green jacket ( a doublet?) with red and white hooped tights. I don't remember this costume in Britain in the 1950's and 60's, but it seems to have become ingrained as the "traditional" outfit for small workers at the North Pole. So, my question is, where does the image come from? Does it have any foundation in a European culture/folklore or is it simply an American invention?


18 Nov 18 - 08:48 AM (#3962183)
Subject: RE: Folklore: santa's elves
From: Jos

Sounds like what you get if you cross a leprechaun with Pippi Longstocking.