After Will Ferrell‘s Buddy the Elf passed through the seven levels of the Candy Cane forest, through the sea of swirly twirly gumdrops, and then walked through the Lincoln Tunnel on a quest to find his dad, he found himself on an even bigger mission: to remind people about the spirit of Christmas.
Sometimes the stress of life or general apathy can lead to a lack of enthusiasm for the holidays, so take a few tips from Buddy and Elf (which is a part of the Warner Bros. Holiday Gift Guide) for spreading Christmas cheer to even the crustiest Scrooge.
The Holiday Spirit Begins With A Smile
Not in the creepy “You’d be so much prettier if you smiled” way, but a genuine expression of goodwill to your fellow man. It’s an easy and contagious way to spread a little cheer. Smiling might not be your favorite, but it’s hard to say no to this much infectious joy.
Put Your Friends At Ease With Your Lack Of Inhibitions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Eto6DU_2oI
Your average Scrooge tends to be a bit uptight, so put them at ease by looking as silly as possible. After a while, awkwardness will give way to giggles, and even a grouch will be charmed. You may get thrown out of a department store or two, but it’s probably worth it.
Treat Every Situation With The Enthusiasm It Deserves
Christmas is not the time to half ass it. Nobody had a good holiday by being apathetic, so if you throw yourself into each activity with as much enthusiasm as possible, you’ll definitely have a better holiday. Accusing mall Santas of smelling like beef and cheese might be a bit over the line, but it’s all in service of the holidays.
Be Sure To Include Everyone In Your Joy
The holidays can be a little lonely for people who are far away from friends and family, so be sure to keep an eye out for a stray or two. You may get scratched, but spreading joy is worth the risk. Just be sure to be up to date on your rabies shots.
Christmas Isn’t Christmas Without Awesome Decorations
It doesn’t have to be fancy, but decking the halls with boughs of holly, or whatever Christmas foliage you so desire, goes a long way. Decorating your home can be a fun way to spend time with the family, but remember to be safe in the process. Death defying leaps and improvised parkour are not the best methods of ornament hanging.
The Key To The Holidays Is Kindness
Even the grouchiest Scrooge appreciates a bit of kindness. Whether it’s something as simple as a compliment, a cup of hot chocolate, or a singing Christmas-gram, kindness is key.
One Word: Snacks
Thanksgiving tends to be the holiday most associated with feasting, but Christmas certainly isn’t a slouch in term of snacking. Cookies, fruit cake, you name it. Be sure to stick to Buddy’s four main food groups as much as possible. You can recover with some healthy eating in the new year.
Have A List Of Christmas Activities Ready
Take it from the Boy Scouts and always be prepared. You probably only have a few days off to really suck the marrow out of the season, so try and cram as much cheer in as you can. Sleep is for the weak. You’ve got snuggling to do, snow angels to make, and cookie dough to eat!
Own Up To Your Mistakes
It is easy, however, to get a little carried away at the holidays. You sometimes let your enthusiasm get the better of you, and it can be overwhelming to other less holiday inclined people. Even if you shoved an insane amount of baked goods in the VCR, it’s best to own up when you’ve gone too far.
Christmas Carols Are A Must
Buddy says it best: “The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.” Whether you’re freeing your inner diva to Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” for the 5,000th time this year or crooning along with Bing Crosby, there really isn’t a better way to get into the holiday spirit. Now, you don’t have to belt it out on live television; your living room will be just fine.
Hope you enjoyed our look back at Elf. Our friends at Warner Bros. asked us to remind readers that Elf is available for purchase here.
