Rosie Elf – Keeper of the Naughty and Nice List
For the past 23 years, Rosie Elf has held one of the most important roles at the North Pole – the Keeper of the Naughty and Nice List. It’s a year-round job that demands unwavering attention, as Rosie tracks the lives and choices of 2 to 3 billion children across the globe. Each child has their own highlights, stories, and dreams, and Rosie ensures that none of them slip through the cracks.
The list is constantly shifting, much like the hearts of the children themselves. Most start out on the Nice List, though a few stumble onto the Naughty List from time to time. As the years go by and the teenage years hit, the list starts to thin. Rosie often says, “Teenagers need more love, guidance, and belief than anyone else.” When kids lose their sense of magic or stop believing in themselves, they slip from the list – not from punishment, but because they need help finding their way back.
Rosie tracks everyone – from the tiniest newborns to curious toddlers, creative adolescents, and the bold, imaginative kids who dream up worlds of their own. She even keeps a special eye on the kids who stray onto the Naughty List. While it’s not as fun to record the names of bullies and troublemakers, Rosie knows that these children often carry hurt in their hearts. "No child becomes mean without reason," she says. "They just need someone to believe in them, to remind them they can dream too."
Rosie has a soft spot for the kids who find their way back – those who fall to the Naughty List but work their way to redemption through kindness and perseverance. The North Pole calls this the Redemption List – children who reclaim their place on the Nice List through compassion, growth, and a change of heart. Rosie believes these kids deserve the brightest Christmas presents, as they’ve shown the true meaning of character.
From all the Aaron’s to all the Zoey’s, Rosie knows every name and the spark of light each child carries. She treasures her job, not because of the lists or the long hours, but because she sees the potential for goodness in every child, no matter their journey.
