<P> In Clement Clarke Moore's 1823 poem A Visit from St. Nicholas (more commonly known today as' Twas the Night Before Christmas), Santa Claus himself is described in line 45 as, "He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf ." Prior to the influence of St. Nicholas in Sweden, the job of giving out gifts was done by the Yule Goat . By 1891, the saint had become so well known that he could no longer be ignored . He became merged with Tomten, which was previously an elfish / dwarfish farm guardian . Following the work of artist Jenny Nyström, this hybrid figure became known as Jultomten . </P> <P> In the USA, Canada, and Britain, the modern children's folklore of Santa Claus typically includes diminutive elves at Christmas; green - clad elves with pointy ears and pointy hats as Santa's assistants or hired workers . They make the toys in a workshop located in the North Pole . In recent years, other toys--usually high - tech toys like computers, video games, DVDs and DVD players, and even mobile phones--have also been depicted as being ready for delivery, but not necessarily made, in the workshop as well . In this portrayal, elves slightly resemble nimble and delicate versions of the dwarves of Norse myth . </P> <P> Christmas elves have had their role expanded in modern films and television . For instance: </P> <Ul> <Li> In Santa Claus: The Movie, the elves are a type of craft guild making traditional toys by hand and looking after Santa's reindeer . </Li> <Li> The elves' workshop is also featured regularly in films, such as in Elf (2003), starring Will Ferrell . </Li> <Li> The 1932 Disney short film, Santa's Workshop, features Santa Claus and his elves preparing for Christmas . </Li> <Li> A team of elves features prominently in the Rankin - Bass 1964 special Rudolph the Red - Nosed Reindeer . </Li> <Li> The Christmas Elves are featured in the 1998 TV movie Like Father, Like Santa . </Li> <Li> In the DreamWorks Animation film Rise of the Guardians, elves are very short beings who wear pointy hat - like clothes and assist Santa at the North Pole, but they don't make the toys, the elves are only led to believe this, as yetis are actually responsible for making the toys in the film . </Li> <Li> Disney had the theme of Christmas elves for their 2009 short film, Prep & Landing, which tells the tale of an elite group of elves that make houses ready for Santa's deliveries . It was the first holiday television special made by Walt Disney Animation Studios . </Li> <Li> The Christmas Elves were featured in Arthur Christmas . </Li> </Ul>

What is the reason behind the elf on the shelf