How to Elf Someone for Christmas: The Complete Guide

Combine mischief and gift-giving this holiday: Secretly leave small Christmas-themed treats for friends. Just as Halloween has "booing," Christmas has "elfing." It's a lighthearted, mischievous way to surprise friends, neighbors, and coworkers throughout the holiday season.

What is elfing?

Also referred to as jingling or tinseling, elfing is a simple way to get in the holiday spirit and share some gifts. The practice works best when you involve a group of connected people, such as coworkers, neighbors, or extended family.

In the weeks leading up to Christmas, one person starts the chain by secretly leaving someone a present with a note or poem explaining how elfing works and asking them to pass it on.

The key is staying hidden so that you don't get caught. The fun multiplies as each new recipient elfs at least two more people.

Where elfing comes from

"Yes, elfing is considered a 'new' tradition today, but it also has some links to a much older tradition," says James Cooper, the owner and manager of Why Christmas?, a kid-friendly Christmas information website. "Elfing is similar to a Swedish tradition dating back hundreds of years called julklapp, which means 'Christmas knock.'"

The knock-and-run doorstep surprise has been a form of gift-giving for centuries, Cooper says: "You would knock on the door of a friend or neighbor and then leave a small gift, often made from straw or wood, on the doorstep before sprinting away. The gift would include a little poem or riddle that would help people work out who had left the gift."

Today julklapp is used in Sweden to refer to all Christmas gifts, and the tradition of sneakily gifting presents has continued for children in the region.

But you don't have to live near the North Pole to join in. "The modern version seems to have started with people posting photos and ideas of leaving secret gifts for their neighbors on social media platforms," Cooper notes. It has since become a way for neighbors, coworkers, and families to share a little holiday fun..

How to elf someone in 5 steps

With a bit of prep work, you can start your own tinseling tradition. Follow these five steps.

Step 1: Print your elfed sign & instructions

The first step to successful elfing is making sure participants understand how the game works. Every delivery should include a sign reading "We've Been Elfed!" as well as instructions explaining the rules and letting recipients know how to continue the fun.

Not sure what to write? That's why we're here. Download this printable guide and use it to carry out your elfing missions.

Step 2: Pick your elfing gift

Next comes the tasty part: deciding what to gift. Cookies and other holiday treats are the classic choice, but small handmade decorations work too.

You've Been Elfed Treats Gift Pail

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Whimsical Holiday Treats Tower

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You've Been Elfed Goodie Box

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You've Been Elfed Cookie Box

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Step 3: Add a note or a riddle

Take a page from the original julklapp tradition and tuck in a little poem or riddle. It can include hints for narrowing down who left the gift. Keep the clues playful and just vague enough to spark some friendly detective work.

Step 4: Deliver & dash

Place your present on the recipient’s doorstep, ring the doorbell, and get out of sight. The included note will explain what’s happening.

Step 5: Pass it on

Your note should encourage the recipient to hang up their "We've Been Elfed!" sign and elf at least two more people. That’s how a single sneaky delivery becomes a neighborhood chain.

Elfing gift ideas: cookies, treats & more

"How you do elfing is up to you," Cooper says. "Some people seem to like leaving things like cookies, whereas others like making little decorations or presents."

Cookie & treat gifts

These picks were made for elfing, so all you have to do is add your note and make your getaway.

• You've Been Elfed Treats Gift Pail: a festive pail that announces the game for you, right in its name. Shop the Treats Gift Pail
• Whimsical Holiday Treats Tower: a stacked option for elfing a household or an office crew. Shop the Treats Tower
• You've Been Elfed Goodie Box: a mix of goodies for recipients who like variety. Shop the Goodie Box
• You've Been Elfed Cookie Box: an all-cookie option for keeping it classic. Shop the Cookie Box

See More

Looking for more small surprises? Try our stocking stuffer ideas.

Homemade & budget-friendly ideas

Elfing doesn’t have to be elaborate. Some of the sweetest surprises come from your own kitchen or craft table:

• Home-baked cookies—a plate of frosted cutouts or a few favorite drop cookies, sealed up tight
• Handmade ornaments—salt dough, felt, or painted wood ornaments to hang on the tree
• Cocoa kits—hot cocoa mix, a candy cane, and a few marshmallows in a jar or treat bag
• Craft decorations—paper snowflakes, mini wreaths, or a little elf made from a pinecone

Printable elfing note & poem

Every elfing delivery needs a sign for the window and a note that explains the game. Copy the text below onto a card, or download printables.

"We've Been Elfed!" sign:

We've Been Elfed!
Please don't elf this house again. Happy holidays!

Elfing rules:

1. Enjoy your treat. A secret elf thought of you this Christmas.
2. Hang the "We've Been Elfed!" sign in a window or on your door so other elves know you’ve been visited.
3. Within two days, choose two neighbors who haven't been elfed yet.
4. Make two copies of these rules and the sign, and pair them with a small treat for each.
5. Leave your gift on their doorstep, ring the bell, and dash away without getting caught.
6. Keep the fun going in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

Sample elfing poem:

You've been elfed by a neighbor who's sneaky and sweet,
Who tiptoed right up with a festive treat.
Now hang up your sign so the other elves know
This house has been visited. Then off you go.
Pick two more friends and bring treats of your own,
Then leave them in secret, and leave them alone.
Ring the bell, dash away, don't get caught in the act,
And keep this elfing chain merry and intact.

How to keep the elfing tradition going

One doorstep delivery is fun. A whole chain of them spreads the activity through a community. Here’s how to keep it rolling:

• Pass it on to two more people. Each person who gets elfed surprises at least two others, so the chain grows with every delivery.
• Put the sign in a window. Displaying your "We've Been Elfed!" sign lets other elves know your home has already been visited.
• Set an end date. Elfing happens in the weeks leading up to Christmas. If you're starting a chain, include a "last day to elf" on your note so that everyone wraps up before the holiday.
• Make it work for your group. In an office, leave treats on desks or in the break room instead of on doorsteps. In a neighborhood, a shared group chat or community board can help track which homes have their signs up. For extended family, elfing can start at one household and travel through cousins, aunts, and grandparents.
• Elf someone far away. If a loved one lives across the country, ship the surprise instead. Send one of our Christmas cookie gifts with a printed copy of the rules tucked into your message, and let them start a chain in their own neighborhood.

Elfing tips & etiquette

A little thoughtfulness keeps elfing fun for everyone, including neighbors who haven’t heard of the game:

• Add an ingredient card to homemade treats so that recipients can check for allergies.
• Use sealed packaging for any food left on a doorstep.
• Before shipping a surprise to a distant recipient, confirm they can receive a doorstep food delivery, check their current address, and choose a delivery window when someone will be home. That way the gift arrives fresh and the surprise stays intact.
• Ring the bell and leave rather than knocking and waiting around.
• Keep your note friendly and clear so that anyone unfamiliar with the game isn't confused.
• Include the rules with every delivery so that the chain can continue.