For a lighthearted history of elves, brownies, goblins and such like, and how they became part of our Christmas folklore, visit: “The Evolution of Elves,” by Rebecca Sicree.

“Over the past centuries, three major events changed the perceptions of elves. First, the arrival of Christianity dethroned them as gods. Then the Reformation shrank them. And finally, the American Revolution sent them to the North Pole.”