How to ELF your Neighbors this Holiday Season

Start a new tradition with your family this year and ELF your Neighbors will treats, cookies, candy and the spirit of the Holiday Season!

Have you ever “Elfed” your neighbors? ” Or have you ever been “Elfed?”

Elfing” your neighbors is right up there with boo-ing your neighbors (Halloween) and is sometimes called “Snowballing your neighbors”. It’s one of our new favorite traditions and one that my kids picked up from a Christmas movie (The Christmas Project) that you can find on Netflix. 

What is ELFING?

“Elfing” is harmless — it’s fun though, and after you read more about it and do it once, chances are you will want to do it again and make it your new family tradition.

To play “You’ve been Elfed”… you will want to leave a basket of goodies, an Elf sign, and an Elf letter that tells them how to play the game. You or your kids will ring the doorbell of an unsuspecting neighbor, and run!

As the neighbor finds their treat, they will read the letter. Hopefully they will be encouraged to play the game by passing it on to two or more neighbors.

What to give when ELFING?

I love sending cookies with our ELF basket. Who doesn’t love warm, chocolate chip cookies straight from the oven? I know they are so much of a favorite with my kids.  This particular cookie recipe makes 24 wonderfully sized cookies – so 8 in a container for each of 3 families works great. 

You could actually make a basket with any type of holiday cookie. Or use peanut brittle, pecans, holiday bark, a few Christmas ornaments, perhaps even a few inexpensive gifts (especially if you know they have kids). Go a step further – perhaps something personalized. Maybe even handmade soap (which is especially amazing if you are a soap-maker!)

Try these:

• Sweet Candied Pecans
• Chocolate Pecan Graham Crackers
• Cinnamon Toast Pumpkin Seeds
• Gingersnap Reindeer Cookies
• Amish Maple Cookies

Then, enlist the help of your kids (one, or several) – and find a neighbor that you would like to ELF. Of course, safety always comes first. You know your immediate neighbors best, and I wouldn’t suggest venturing into an unknown area, or dropping food off at those houses you are not familiar with.

There are lots of wonderful families out there, but there are a fair amount of crazies out there too! :)

I’m a bit too clumsy to ring and run quickly, but my kids are quick. My kids always have such a wonderful time.  Every year we aim to ELF 3-4 houses; it truly is so much fun.

“You’ve Been ELFED” Sign

To “Elf” your neighbors this holiday season, just click on the pictures above, and you’ll open up a PDF you can print. I love to roll them up and tie (like a diploma) and attach to my “Elf” gift.

If you plan on starting this new family tradition this year, you only have a short time left!   

Do you have a favorite holiday tradition?