The earliest myths involving elves portrayed them as mischievous or even malicious creatures that posed dangers to humans and animals. So, how do we get from there to jolly little Christmas elves? It’s a story that takes us from ancient Ancient Europe to the current day — one that involves mythology, modern American influence, the power of poetry and literature, possibly the rise of industrialization, and definitely...sticking it to the Nazis.

Mentioned in this Episode

• Christmas in the Crosshairs, by Gerry Bowler
• Santa Claus: A Biography, by Gerry Bowler
• The World Encyclopedia of Christmas, by Gerry Bowler

Music in this Episode

• "Ivory Pillow" — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive
• "Ambient Piano" — BlackPy Beats, via Pixabay
• "Road in the Forest" — Olexy, via Pixabay
• "Christmas Music Box" — Oleg Kirilkov, via Pixabay
• "Gentle Soft Piano | Christmas Vibes" — Alex Productions, via Free Music Archive

Connect with Me

• Links to all the things https://christmaspastpodcast.com/links
• Email: [email protected]

Books

Of Christmases Long, Long Ago: Surprising Traditions from Christmas Past (2025, Lyons Press and Recorded Books) It's Christmas as you've never seen it before, and it makes a great gift for all the Christmas lovers in your life.

Christmas Past: The Fascinating Stories Behind Our Favorite Holiday's Traditions (2022, Lyons Press and Recorded Books)