Meet Marmite: The Elf That’s Not Your Average Christmas Sidekick

While working on his head, I was about to smooth it out, but it ended up looking like a tree stump. Bam! That’s when the idea hit: he’s a tree elf, taking care of Christmas trees at the North Pole. Plus, I wanted to make him a stop-motion puppet so he could really come to life.

At first, I worried my daughter might not love his quirky look, but just like some classic movie characters, his charm won her over. Oh, and we named him Marmite because, well, you either love him or you don’t!

I sent a photo to my daughter Chloe asking if Marmite could stay. She saw him, got excited, and just said “Yes!” No second thoughts. She adored his odd little face from the get-go. When Marmite showed up, I checked out some elf groups to get ideas, and boy, did he stir things up! True to his name, people either loved or hated him. Thankfully, the love won, even though the haters called him ugly.

Some folks wondered why I made him look the way he does. Was he creepy or a nightmare? Nope! Even though not everyone’s cup of eggnog, I saw him as more than a toy. To my daughter, Marmite is pure Christmas magic. He sparks her imagination and keeps the festive spirit alive in the best way. When I told her some people didn’t like him, she just couldn’t get why. Innocence sees beauty everywhere.

Together, Chloe and I made a book about acceptance, with her amazing illustrations. It’s for anyone who feels a little different, to show how much they’re loved - just like Marmite and my daughter. We also created mini Marmites that match the book’s story. While the original puppet’s pretty fancy (like movie stuff!), these minis are easier to have at home.

We decided to keep just one big Marmite because uniqueness rocks. Our youngest daughter, Bobbi, totally gets it - even at 2 years old! She’s just as excited to see him each morning and chats about him all year long. So before you call him creepy or ugly, remember: you’re born to stand out, not fit in.