I’ve stopped doing Elf on the Shelf and replaced him with a frightening alternative – but trolls won’t stop me
MANY families have Christmas traditions such as: wearing matching PJs, snuggling up with their favourite festive film or staying up late to see Santa.
One mum, however, has abandoned the Elf on the Shelf for a much spookier festive tradition.
Though you might not know Reby Hardy’s name, you’ll probably be familiar with her viral Tiktok series: Gothic Baby.
After having three boys, Maxel,7, Wolfgang, 5, and Bartholomew, 3, the mum wasn’t keen on dressing her little girl in traditional pinks and pastels.
Inspired by a Victorian cot she’d found on Facebook Marketplace, the mum made the unusual decision to give her young daughter a very grungy aesthetic.
Despite only being three, Ever More has major Wednesday Addams vibes and is often dressed in all-black outfits – complete with matching accessories.
It is not just a fashion statement either, as the tiny tot also plays with Victoria dolls and a monochromatic nursery.
In fact, her mum revealed that Ever More was even born during a storm and told the Metro: “She was born outdoors [in our pool] during a thunderstorm. Every time I had a contraction, it would thunder.”
Despite Christmas being just around the corner, the spooky shenanigans don’t stop in this house and the mum-of-four Reby has adopted a rather alternative Christmas tradition.
Instead of the Elf on the Shelf causing mayhem in their house, her kids have the Krampus on their mantle piece.
The creepy toy was inspired by German folklore, as well as a cult horror film, and also keeps an eye out for bad behaviour – just like his more festive alternative.
“The idea of this toy is sort of like Elf on the shelf, but instead of reporting back to Santa, he reports to Krampus,” she explained, showing off the toy on Tiktok.
If that weren’t frighteningly enough, Reby added: “The Lore of Krampus is that he takes misbehaving children and stuffs them into his sack, bringing them back to his lair.”
“Maybe now Gothic baby will behave,” she joked during the short clip.
Though the viral video was meant to be tongue-in-cheek, it gained some serious attention online and has been watched over 160,000 times on Tiktok.
Unsurprisingly, the toy sparked debate in the comments with some users revealing that they had been terrified of the folktale as kids.
“OMG Krampus that thing haunted me as a child,” confessed one viewer.
Another revealed that they’d even been mum-shamed over the scary Xmas tradition, writing: “I got shamed for having Krampus cookies and a Krampus tree.”
However, most of Reby’s 2 million followers seemed to love the alternative Christmas toy and gushed about it in the comments.
Another added: “I love him!!! I’m obsessed with Krampus.”
“We have the Elf and Krampus,” said a fourth, adding: “My daughter knows they are both reporting.”
Whilst the mum’s alternative parenting style might not for everyone, the family seem happy with their alternative Christmas tradtion.
We just wonder what they get up to on Halloween.