HAGERSVILLE—It’s been three years since Everly Evergreen and Ella Elderberry made their first appearance at the home of Hagersville resident Debbie Allan. In the time since, they’ve embarked on a number of fun adventures around town, accompanying Debbie on her daily errands and spreading a little extra holiday cheer wherever they go.
In fact, the elves made a stop by the office of The Haldimand Press to question our staffers about how their children have been behaving this holiday season, and of course to pose with our office Christmas tree. It was then that Allan told us a little about the elves’ history with her.
“The elves arrived December 1, 2020, right in Covid,” said Allan. “Then the elves got stuck here, because Ford said ‘no unnecessary travel’.”
Not content to just sit around and wait to be able to safely travel back to the North Pole, Allan helped Everly and Ella pass the time with several activities, photographing their antics to share with family and friends throughout that interminable holiday season of lockdowns and cancelled plans.
“It was a little Christmas magic, something different,” said Allan.
Initial lockdown-based activities included doing puzzles, playing tic-tac-toe with marshmallows, and Jingle Bell bowling. The elves have become steady hands in the kitchen as well, learning the art of making butter tarts, with Debbie’s help of course, in addition to other treats and meals.
“They’ve become quite well-known for it. I have photos of them stirring eggs, baking, things like that,” said Allan, noting that while the elves had picked up basic cooking skills from their time at the Elf Academy in the North Pole, she was able to teach them some new tricks in the kitchen. “It sort of gave everybody something to laugh and cheer about.”
For the past couple of Christmases, the elves have made a special visit to Anson Place, accompanying Allan as she went to visit and look after her cousin Murray Johnson. Known around Hagersville for his tireless support of local sports, Johnson passed away earlier this year.
“Murray still believed in Santa. The elves were thrilling for him; he got to sit and hold the elves and they brought him Christmas presents,” said Allan. “That was fun.”
As a member of the Haldimand Quilt Guild, it only made sense for Allan to teach Everly and Ella how to sew: “We do a lot of donations for the hospital.… These elves have been sewing. They learned how to make their own clothes.”
They have also been seen around town in their flashy new sportscar, purchased on an adventure to a Value Village.
“We detailed it in rhinestones. It’s a very snazzy purple and glitzy car. This year they went driving out and came back with a Christmas tree. It’s a little one-foot tree, and then they dove into my buttons,” said Allan. “They made 50 ornaments for the tree.… They’re showing how you can just take ordinary things and decorate your tree.”
Other locations they’ve been spotted include the candy department, conveyor belt, and toy section at local grocery stores, visiting the bank and post office, and of course stopping for egg rolls at Hagersville’s Asian Kitchen.
“They visit Christmas trees everywhere they go…. They do like to hide in the clothing and they like the toy department,” said Allan. “They love church bake sales.”
One of her favourite things about bringing her elf buddies along on her day-to-day activities is seeing the reaction of the children she comes across.
“You’ll see them whisper, ‘Mommy, she has elves and they have fur coats on.’ Some of them would come up and say, ‘did you say something to your elf?’ – to which I would say, ‘of course, he can give you a hug if you want it.’ Sometimes if they want a picture they can take one.”
Allan said she’s used to adults looking at her questioningly, and she always says, “‘Yeah, they’re doing the Christmas shopping for me, I always forget things.’ It just makes everybody smile and laugh. I think we need more of that in the world.”
She shared some good holiday advice from Everly and Ella, who said, “Santa reads all the letters you send him and the elf mail. Just help everybody and smile and be nice to everybody.”
Allan summed up the fun tradition she has been enjoying for the past three years, “It’s proof that adults can be kids, because we can.”
