It's Christmas Eve-Eve Blogmonauts!

Today, in honour of the industrious friends stocking Santa's sleigh behind door number 23: 

Lets.

Talk.

About.

Elves.

Not Tolkien elves, none of your Noldor and Vanyar here, nor your common-or-garden fantasy elves, though I'm sure these folk do have bonuses to bow use and spotting secret doors. No, we're talking Santa's elves. 

Firstly, it's important (to me) that they not be goblins or monsters. I dunno it's just not cool or edgy, there's a time and place for that, and it's in some rad Brian Froud Labyrinth stuff, not in Santa's workshop.

Secondly, as far as I'm concerned a big part of the the magic of the holiday season is how a sense of childhood wonder (which we're basically pursuing constantly here at IFG) permeates the world, if only on a surface level and for a fleeting moment. But it's there, even for the grumpiest, most curmudgeonly ally of the banal and commonplace. That childhood feeling that adults - like Father Christmas, for example - are in some fashion magic, and the boys and girls living in the interim; the older brothers and sisters, the cool cousin or youthful uncle, represent the fact that you, a child, will soon be getting magic too. And that is why we salute you, cool teen elves of a thousand Santa's Grottos in malls and shopping centres and unbranded theme-parks, for providing the missing link between the weird kaleidoscopic multiverse of childhood and the unknowable, esoteric world of the adults.

Thirdly, while Santa is magic, obviously, we're of the opinion that heroes, of all kinds (including those in healthcare, in comi books, volunteers and all the other people who glue our society together via a feeling that they should do something for other people) shouldn't need to labour in isolation - as such, it's only right that Santa have some friends to back him up. We love that the nebulous concept of "Santa's elves" creates this extended Santa mythology from the kind of questions kids ask - does Santa make all the presents himself then? No, of couse not, there are elves. Does Santa just make wooden trains and nutcrackers and teddys and the like, or does he make Transformers and NESes and Game Developer Barbie and friendship bracelet kits? That last one was always a fun Christmas ponder for us. Regardless, Santa is magic, and so is helping people, so helping Santa? Magic.

Some big thoughts about elves huh? I mean, I guess Tolkien did have some pretty big elf thoughts too, but did he have a $1 dollar holiday themed spot-the-difference game on itch? In your face Tolkien scholars! 

I'd like to think ol' John Ronald Reuel would've enjoyed Festive Finds. And Shindig too. He'd have tweeted about Steve. Yeah, Merry Christmas Mr. Tolkien.

And you too Blogmanaut! See you tomorrow where it may get even weirder!

Love always,

Martyn & Fay

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