Over 50 Aarikka wooden elves set Johanna’s Christmas mood: “I can spot a real Aarikka elf in an instant”

Johanna Lahti’s Christmas wouldn’t be complete without elves. At Christmas, Johanna’s home is watched over by Iikka the Elf, handmade by Johanna’s mother, who comes every Advent from Santa Claus' home Korvatunturi with small presents for the children, often books. Feetu the Attic Elf looks after the cottage year-round. The children’s namesake elves—three fabric elves—get hung in the window or whenever, wherever. At the start of December, around fifty wooden Aarikka elves take over the home.

Johanna, how did you start collecting Aarikka elves?

My sister-in-law gave me my first Aarikka elf as a Christmas present in the early 1990s. The elf’s simple shape and endearing expression charmed me then—and still do. That gift started a tradition: I began giving my children their own elves every Christmas. Later I continued the tradition with my goddaughter and her brother. I don’t really see myself as a collector, but when the number of elves grew by at least three every year, well—quite a crowd has gathered.

The first elf I was given is, in many ways, the most meaningful. It has yellowed a bit and shows the patina of time, but it’s tied to many beloved stories and Christmases spent together.

What’s the charm of the wooden elves?

There’s something timeless and wonderfully familiar about Aarikka’s elves. Kaija Aarikka designed the first wooden elf figures in 1982, so to me these cheerful elves represent my childhood in 1980s Finland—and the time when I grew into adulthood.

The elves are expressive, and they’ve stood the test of time beautifully. I still appreciate that they’re made of wood, not plastic, and crafted by hand in Finland. I can spot a real Aarikka elf in an instant, because the materials, proportions, and details are distinctive and consistent. I don’t need to check the mark on the bottom.

What memories and feelings are tied to the elves?

To me, elves are part of Finnish tradition, which the Finnish children's author Mauri Kunnas has wonderfully brought to life with his granary and stable elves. Elves bring joy and lightness and carry a touch of Christmas magic with them.

Elves in general take me back to my own childhood and also to the years when my children were small. Even though you might think otherwise, elves aren’t the heart of my Christmas. A Christmas without elves sounds possible too. Then again, you can’t really keep them away—they still sneak and scurry in the corners.

In my childhood home, Finnish craftsmanship and design were deeply valued, and I’ve passed that heritage on to my children. Still, they get to choose their own stories and any collections they might start. I don’t force or obligate them to anything.

A couple of Christmases ago I lined up the Aarikka elves and asked my kids whether they wanted to take their own elves to their own homes. They weren’t ready yet.

How do you decorate your home for Christmas?

I’m a big fan of the pre-Christmas season. I always start decorating on All Saints’ Day by hanging star lights in the windows. Then I add more lights and bring out the white angel ornaments. We also have lots of Christmas tree ornaments, because back in the day the kids got one new ornament every year. A couple of Christmases ago we had two trees: a white tree decorated with my daughter in the living room, and a colorful tree in my son’s room at his request.

I don’t bring out the Aarikka elves until the start of December, when I fetch them from the basement. I gather them into different arrangements depending on my mood. The composition of the elf groups changes from year to year as well. I like them in clusters, not scattered here and there.

I’m always coming up with new spots for the elves. The bookshelf became a regular place a few Christmases ago, when I lined them up in front of the books. They’ve taken over the shelves ever since.

I haven’t yet brought elves to the Christmas table, but maybe this is the year for an elf-themed setting? I set the table differently every year.

What’s the best thing about collecting?

The stories that come along with items. I don’t get attached to things; I collect feelings and stories. Without the stories, even elves are just wooden balls.

I never decided to start collecting—things just crossed my path, and that’s how it started. In recent years I’ve collected Royal Copenhagen annual plates to use as appetizer plates. It’s a pity they get so little use during the year—maybe I’ll put them into breakfast rotation for Advent season?

And I let go of things just as easily if I know they’ll end up in a caring home. The joy of making a find goes hand in hand with the feeling of a series you've collected continuing its journey to a new, loving home.