After a magical month filled with crafts, giggles, and nightly flights to the North Pole, your Scout Elf’s holiday mission is almost complete. According to The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition, an elf’s official duties wrap up on Christmas Eve, when most Scout Elves say goodbye to their families and take flight behind Santa’s sleigh as it glides across the winter sky.
Their journey home marks the start of a brand-new year of North Pole preparation, but in some homes across Canada, a few lucky elves may receive special permission from Santa himself to linger just a little longer.
Here’s why your elf might still be spotted after Christmas morning.
1. Their Christmas duties aren’t quite done
If your family travelled during the holidays, maybe visiting grandparents in another province or spending Christmas at the cottage, your Scout Elf might need an extra night or two to finish their official mission.
They’re careful and thorough reporters, after all! Your elf may stay behind briefly to complete their final notes for Santa and ensure every act of kindness gets the recognition it deserves.
2. Santa granted one more day of magic
Sometimes, Santa gets a special request. Many children across Canada write letters asking if their Scout Elf can stay just long enough to watch them open gifts on Christmas morning.
When the North Pole mailroom delivers those heartfelt notes, Santa occasionally says yes, allowing an elf to perch quietly nearby for one last morning of family joy before heading home. It’s their way of soaking in a few final moments of Christmas cheer before beginning preparations for next year’s season.
3. Their arrival was delayed, so Santa adjusted their schedule
Occasionally, travel from the North Pole doesn’t go exactly as planned (even elves face a few winter storms or icy winds!). If your Scout Elf arrived a bit later in December than usual, Santa may extend their stay so they can spend the same number of magical days with your family as every other home.
Think of it as an Elf Weather Delay, a friendly extension so your elf can complete their full festive mission, even if it means one more snowy morning by your tree.
4. They just couldn’t resist one last celebration
Canada’s festive season doesn’t stop at Christmas! Some Scout Elves love joining in for Boxing Day fun, whether it’s a cosy pyjama morning, leftover hot chocolate, or helping tidy up the wrapping paper pile.
If your elf sticks around for an extra day of laughter and leftovers, it’s usually with Santa’s blessing, one more sparkle of joy before they pack up their magic and head north again.
When your Scout Elf finally departs
When your elf does take flight, it’s never really goodbye. Each Scout Elf leaves behind a legacy of kindness, creativity, and laughter, along with memories that will warm your family right through the winter.
They’ll be back next season, refreshed and ready for more North Pole adventures, with stories to tell and new surprises to share.
If your little ones feel sad when their elf leaves, remind them: every act of kindness, every shared giggle, and every Christmas memory helps their Scout Elf’s magic grow stronger for next year.
Because even when they’re gone, the spirit they helped create stays right where it belongs, in your home, in your hearts, and in the magic of Christmas.