Ott is a modern elf, so he is not interested in footwear, nor does he spy on the kids. Instead, he has a little house through which all communication takes place. Ott leaves little notes, asking how the girls prepare for Christmas, sharing his Christmas muffin recipes, or suggesting that maybe the squirrels in our front yard could use some peanuts on a cold day. He often brings little treats, such as chocolates, LEGO pieces, bracelets, toothbrushes, or notebooks. And he can always smell when we have baked gingerbread — he asks if he can have a taste, too!
The girls love Ott’s visits. They share their cookies with him, draw pictures, and even try to reply to his notes. Right after Halloween decorations come down, they start asking if Ott will come soon, and they are sad when he tells them on Christmas Eve that he is off for his long, well-deserved vacation.
…he is an Estonian elf living in Toronto, he lives above a mechanic in Roncesvalles that we once drove by, and he looks like whatever elf-themed cartoon or book we are going through at the moment.
Of course, the elf sparks questions, such as “How come he writes in Estonian when we live in Toronto?” and “Where does he live and what does he look like?” To keep the magic alive, I have let them come up with answers themselves. So if you were wondering — he is an Estonian elf living in Toronto, he lives above a mechanic in Roncesvalles that we once drove by, and he looks like whatever elf-themed cartoon or book we are going through at the moment.
This year, however, my five-year old has been posing more difficult questions: “If he is so small, how come he can carry all the things he brings?” “Why do his letter Õ’s look like exactly like the way mum writes them?” And “How did he get his hands on that Estonian chocolate?”
One night, after bedtime, I heard footsteps coming down the stairs and a question: “Emme, kas Sina oled Ott?” – Mum, are you Ott?
My heart sank a little, but I know that this was a situation I could not wiggle out of. So we cuddled on the sofa, talked about how different families have different holiday traditions, and how she feels about finding out the truth. She wasn’t too sad about the magic dissolving, but rather proud of her own cleverness. We agreed that we will still keep the secret from her little sister for now. “Ott will continue to come until we are kids, and then we can have another thing for Christmas!”
So, Ott keeps on leaving notes and treats… at least until my three-year old will be able to perform handwriting analysis.
