Christmas 2020: Even Elf on the Shelf is quarantining this year
Elf on the Shelf is s-elf isolating!
In a hilarious photo that has gone viral on Facebook, Santa’s Little Helper wears a miniature mask and clutches a bottle of hand sanitizer. The doll, who is crammed inside a sealed mason jar, also comes complete with a can of disinfectant to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
“ELF ON THE SHELF will need to quarantine for 14 days after his trip from the North Pole!” the caption reads. “This should help you mamas!!”
For anyone wondering, "What on earth is Elf on the Shelf?" here is a brief tutorial: The idea is that Santa’s little scout watches children in their homes during the day and then returns to the North Pole at night to report to report back on whether they were naughty or nice. In the morning, he assumes a new position in the house, which is where Mom and Dad come in to play.
Multiple online retailers are selling pandemic-themed Elf on the Shelf accessories, including isolation houses and face coverings.
Jessica Lauren Dawson, who has an Etsy shop, told TODAY Parents she’s sold 80 elf masks in the last 48 hours. (It should come as no surprise that green and red are the most popular colors!)
“This is our new normal, so it makes sense,” the mother of two explained.
The creators of Elf on the Shelf checked with Santa himself, who clarifies that elves don't need to quarantine: "Since Scout Elves are magical beings from the North Pole, they do not get human sicknesses and do not need to quarantine!”
But, they note, elves might model good behavior like mask wearing, social distancing and even quarantining. The official Elf on the Shelf website offers free printables and instructions for making elf masks of your own.
The COVID-19 epidemic couldn’t scare away Halloween spirit either. From skeletons on Zoom to pandemic pumpkins, creative people all across the country stepped up to the challenge of making the spooky season extra special.
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