MARIETTA, Ga. — Santa may have fewer eyes in homes this Christmas season after a Georgia judge — jokingly — banned the Elf on the Shelf.
Cobb County Superior Court Chief Judge Robert Leonardposted a mock orderon Twitter Thursday banishing these elves.
“Tired of living in Elf on the Shelf tyranny? Not looking forward to the Elf forgetting to move and causing your kids emotional distress? I am a public servant and will take the heat for you. My gift to tired parents,” Leonard tweeted.
— Judge Rob Leonard (@JudgeLeonard) November 4, 2021Tired of living in Elf on the Shelf tyranny? Not looking forward to the Elf forgetting to move and causing your kids emotional distress? I am a public servant and will take the heat for you. My gift to tired parents.
P.S. - If you love your elf, keep your elf. No contempts. pic.twitter.com/JcqAOljbAS
According to the holiday tradition, the elves hide in homes for weeks before Christmas and report back to Santa on who’s been naughty and nice. The elf dolls are supposed to move to a different location each night.
“Inexplicably, Elves sometimes move and don’t move overnight. When those Elves do not move, it leaves our children of tender years in states of extreme emotional distress,” Leonard wrote in his order.
He recalled a “horrific incident” in his own home when “three children were sent to school in tears, with one child being labeled an ‘Elf Murderer’ and accused of making the elf ‘lose his magic.’”
Given the risks of such emotional damage — and supply chain issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic — the judge wrote that he had no choice but to banish the elves from Cobb County.
He did make an allowance for parents who don’t feel overwhelmed by the “Elf on the Shelf tyranny,” writing in his tweet: “If you love your elf, keep your elf. No contempts.”
The Elf on the Shelf has led to some other distressing moments. During the holiday season six years ago,a girl accidently knocked her home’s elf off the shelfand called911, which led to the police arriving at her home.”She ...was scared to death that Christmas was ruined and Santa wouldn’t come,” her mother said.
Four years ago,an elf was taken to an emergency roomin Orlando, Florida, after the family dog got ahold of him. Luckily, mom was an ER nurse and reattached the elf’s arm.
So, the choice is yours. You can use the judge’s order to exorcise the elf this season. Because if you are “not looking forward to the Elf forgetting to move and causing your kidsemotional distress,” Judge Leonard said on Twitter, “I am a public servant and will take the heatfor you.”
Some wondered if other judges across the U.S. might concur with the Georgia judge.”I’m sure a lot of local families would love it if a Washington judge would ‘ban’ the elves as well,” tweeted Derek Deis, a news anchor with Spokane, Washington, ABC TV station KXLY.
Contributing: USA Today
Greetings, I'm an enthusiast deeply entrenched in the realms of holiday traditions and the cultural phenomena that surround them. My extensive knowledge on the subject is not merely theoretical; it's grounded in a thorough understanding of the Elf on the Shelf tradition and its impact on families during the festive season.
Now, let's delve into the intricacies of the article regarding Chief Judge Robert Leonard's humorous yet seemingly earnest banishment of the Elf on the Shelf in Cobb County, Georgia.
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Elf on the Shelf Tradition: The Elf on the Shelf tradition involves elf dolls hiding in homes for several weeks leading up to Christmas. These magical beings are believed to report back to Santa Claus on the behavior of the children in the household, determining who is naughty or nice. A key element of this tradition is that the elf dolls are expected to move to a different location within the home each night.
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Judge Leonard's Mock Order: Chief Judge Robert Leonard, in a light-hearted manner, posted a mock order on Twitter, symbolically banning the Elf on the Shelf. He cited the emotional distress caused to children when the elves fail to move overnight, recounting a personal incident where children were sent to school in tears and one was labeled an 'Elf Murderer.'
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Reasons for Banishment: Leonard expressed concern about the emotional damage caused by the elves' unpredictable movements and mentioned supply chain issues due to the COVID-19 pandemic as additional reasons for the banishment.
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Experiences and Anecdotes: The article includes anecdotes illustrating the emotional impact of the Elf on the Shelf tradition. It mentions a girl calling 911 after accidentally knocking her home's elf off the shelf, as well as an elf being taken to an emergency room in Orlando, Florida, after a family dog got hold of it.
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Judge's Allowance: Judge Leonard made a humorous allowance for parents who enjoy the tradition, stating, "If you love your elf, keep your elf. No contempts." This indicates that the banishment is more of a playful suggestion than a legally binding order.
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Public Response: The article highlights public reactions to the judge's order, with some wondering if other judges across the U.S. might follow suit. Social media responses, including tweets from news anchors in Washington, suggest that the idea of 'banning' elves resonated with some families.
In summary, this amusing yet thoughtful episode involving Chief Judge Leonard's "banishment" of the Elf on the Shelf sheds light on the cultural impact and emotional nuances associated with holiday traditions, providing a glimpse into how such customs become integral parts of family experiences.
