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Christmas is my favorite holiday. The lights, the music, the buñuelos, the countdown. I love making it fun and special for my kids, and our elf is a big part of that.
But every year I hit the same wall at 10pm: what is the elf doing tonight? So this year I planned all of it. These are the elf on the shelf ideas for Colombia my family is using: 26 nights from Thanksgiving to Christmas, mixing classic elf mischief with Colombian traditions like Día de las Velitas, the novena and the Niño Dios.
We started reading the book last year, and I put our elf out a few nights, but my oldest wasn’t totally into it. Every kid is different, but this year (she’s 5) feels like the year it’ll start getting really fun.
This post is for any parent who wants the elf without the 10pm panic: busy parents, parents who find the Pinterest setups intimidating, and families who want their kids to connect with Colombian traditions. Below you’ll find 8 nights from our plan, how we handle Santa and the Niño Dios, where to find supplies in Medellín and two backup ideas for the nights you forget.
At a glance
- The topic: A 26-night Elf on the Shelf plan that blends classic elf fun with Colombian Christmas traditions.
- Who it is for: Any family in Colombia (or anywhere) that wants an easy, planned elf season. No Colombian roots needed.
- The takeaway: Colombia’s December calendar (Velitas, the novena, the Niño Dios) does half the planning for you.
Why I blend Colombian traditions into our elf
My kids are growing up de aquí y de allá, and so did I. I grew up in Florida with Santa, but also going house to house singing the novena around the pesebre. Now my kids get to live these traditions where they come from, and I want them to know both.
The elf turned out an engaging way to do that. We don’t have to choose between American Christmas and Navidad colombiana. Our elf does both. He brings Christmas PJs on Thanksgiving. He lines up velitas on December 7. He kicks off the novena on the 16th. And on Christmas Day he says goodbye, because the Niño Dios has arrived.
Colombian traditions make it easier, not harder
I expected the Colombian traditions to make planning harder. They did the opposite.
December in Colombia already has a calendar. Velitas on the 7th. The novena from the 16th to the 24th. Buñuelos and natilla everywhere. Those dates did half my planning for me. Instead of inventing 26 ideas from scratch, I matched the elf to what was already happening.
The supplies are easy too. Most of it is at Éxito, D1, a papelería or already in your kitchen.
Pro tip: Plan the Colombian nights first (December 7, 16, 24 and 25). Fill the rest with quick classics.
You don’t need Colombian roots to do this
If you’re raising kids in Colombia, these traditions are already around them. School celebrates them. Neighbors light velitas on their balconies. Your kids will come home asking about the novena.
This plan is for any family that wants to join in, whatever your background. Just arrived? Start with my guide to moving to Medellín with kids, then let the elf introduce your kids to Navidad colombiana. Not living in Colombia? The ideas still work, and your kids learn something new.
Who I made this for
I made this for every kind of parent, including the one who:
- Loves the idea of the elf but doesn’t have time to plan 26 nights
- Feels intimidated by the elaborate setups all over Pinterest
- Started last year and ran out of ideas by week two
- Wants their kids to connect with Colombian traditions but doesn’t know where to start
- Needs a backup plan for the nights they forget (we all forget)
Every idea comes with a setup time, a mess level and a safety note. Tired? Filter for quick, no-mess nights.
Get the full plan free. The Notion guide has all 26 nights with example photos, two sign options for every night, a shopping list with where to buy everything in Medellín, and 5 two-minute backup ideas.
A peek at our elf on the shelf ideas for Colombia
8 nights from our plan
Here are 8 of the 26 nights. The full plan has the rest, plus the classics: poopcorn, a melted snowman and a stuffy in the (unplugged) blender.
November 26: Christmas PJs delivery. We do new holiday PJs every year, so our elf arrives on Thanksgiving to deliver them. Sign: “Happy Thanksgiving! I’ll see you soon. Until then, cozy up this Christmas!”
December 1: Chocolate con queso bath. The elf soaks in a mug of “hot chocolate” with a cube of queso and pan on the side. Sign: “¡Un chocolatico con queso, qué rico!”
December 7: Día de las Velitas. LED velitas and a paper farol lined up on the windowsill, ready for tonight. Día de las Velitas kicks off Christmas in Colombia, so the elf does too. Use LED candles for an overnight setup, never real ones.
December 14: Buñuelos chef. The elf in a paper chef hat with buñuelos and a mini pot of natilla. Sign: “¿Natilla sin buñuelo? ¡Jamás!”
December 16: Novena kickoff. The novena booklet next to a maraca or pandereta. The Novena de Aguinaldos runs every night from the 16th to the 24th. Sign: “¡Hoy empieza la novena!”
December 18: Paisa elf. A tiny poncho and carriel (a napkin and a small bag work fine). Sign: “¡Quiubo pues, parce!”
December 21: Chiva ride. The elf and stuffies ride a chiva like Santa’s sleigh. Sign: “¡A pasear! Santa has a sleigh, I have a chiva.”
December 25: Ya llegó el Niño Dios. The elf’s spot is empty, with a goodbye note by the pesebre.
Santa and the Niño Dios
In Colombia, many families celebrate the Niño Dios bringing the gifts on Christmas Eve. If your kids hear about both, they will ask. On December 17, our elf leaves a note: “En Colombia, el Niño Dios visita a muchas familias. ¡Santa y el Niño Dios son amigos y trabajan juntos!”
Where to find elf supplies in Medellín
Where and when to shop
- Where: Éxito, Carulla, D1, Dollarcity, Panamericana and any papelería. For cheap props and decorations in bulk, try El Hueco.
- When: Buy fresh food (queso, almojábanas, buñuelos) the day before.
- Ordering from Amazon? Deliveries to Colombia can take 1 to 3 weeks, so order by mid-November.
My tip: plan for the nights you forget
It will happen. Keep googly eyes, stick-on bows and a dry-erase marker in a drawer, and you’re covered.
- Mirror message: write “Good Morning! You look great!” on the bathroom mirror with a dry-erase marker.
- Ojo… I’m watching you: googly eyes on everything in the fruit bowl or the fridge. Take them off before anyone eats.
The guide has 3 more.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need Colombian roots to use these ideas?
No. If your kids are growing up in Colombia, these traditions are already part of their December. The elf just helps explain them. Families anywhere can use them too.
When does the elf arrive and leave?
Many families start December 1. Ours arrives on Thanksgiving with Christmas PJs and leaves on December 25, when the Niño Dios arrives. Start whenever works for your family.
Do parents move the elf every night?
Yes, after the kids are asleep. With a plan, most nights take about 5 minutes.
What if my child touches the elf?
Our house rule: sprinkle a little “magic” (cinnamon or glitter) next to the elf, and he’s good as new by morning.
Where can I buy an Elf on the Shelf in Medellín?
Éxito had a bunch last year and, bonus, they were brown elf options!
How do Santa and the Niño Dios fit together?
In our elf’s words: Santa y el Niño Dios son amigos y trabajan juntos. Night 17 in the guide explains it to kids.
Get the full elf plan
The full guide has all 26 elf on the shelf ideas for Colombia, example photos, two signs for every night, printable signs, a Pin the Tail on the Reindeer printable, the Medellín shopping list and 5 backup nights. It’s free.
Looking for more December plans? Here are my favorite things to do in Medellín with kids. And if you want holiday photos this year, start with these family photographers in Medellín.
Tag @mamainmedellin in your setups. I want to see your elf. ¡Feliz Navidad!
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