A Christmas riddle is:
Q: What do elves do after school?
A: Gnomework.
The riddle has been cited in print since at least 1984.
Google Books
The Zaniest Riddle Book in the World
By Joseph Rosenbloom
Illustrations by Sanford Hoffman
New York, NY: Sterling Publishing Company, Inc.
1984
Pg. 93:
What does an elf do when it gets home from school?
Gnomework.
24 July 1988, Newsday (Long Island, NY), “Smiles,” Kidsday sec., pg. 1:
What does an elf do after school?
Gnome work.
Tom Stewart, Farmingdale
Google Books
December 2001, Boys’ Life, “Think & Grin,” pg. 62, col. 2:
Ken: What does an elf do after school?
Jen: What?
Ken: Gnomework. — Michael Peters, Uniontown, Pa.
25 September 2002, Los Angeles (CA) Times, “The Kids’ Reading Room; Jokes & Riddles,” pg. E7:
What does an elf do when it gets home from school? Its gnomework. (Nancy, 7, Eucalyptus Elementary, Hawthorne)
Twitter
Manzoor Abdul Majeed
@manzoor1984
What do elves do after school?
Gnomework!
6:41 AM - 14 Jun 2009
Twitter
Walt
@WaltCade
What did the little elves have to do when they got home from school? Gnome-work!
7:43 AM - 25 Dec 2016
Google Books
Katie Woo’s Hilarious Holiday Jokes
By Fran Manushkin
North Mankato, MN: Picture Window Books, an imprint of Capstone Press
2017
Pg. 27:
What do the elves do after school?
Their GNOME-work.
Google Books
101 Christmas Jokes
By Jack Jokes
PeteyRF Creative
2017
Pg. ?:
What did the little elves have to do when they got home from school?
Gnome work!
Above, a 1934 plaque from the Big Apple Night Club at West 135th Street and Seventh Avenue in Harlem. Discarded as trash in 2006. Now a Popeyes fast food restaurant on Google Maps.
Recent entries:
•“You telling me a crab ran this goon? (5/17)
•“I don’t drink alcohol, I drink distilled spirits. Therefore, I’m not an alcoholic, I’m spiritual” (5/17)
•“I don’t drink alcohol, I drink distilled spirits. So I’m not an alcoholic, I’m spiritual” (5/17)
•“Since we can’t use plastic straws anymore I’ve just been choking turtles with my bare hands” (5/17)
•Entry in progress—BP24 (5/17)
More new entries...
Above, Big Apple Corner at 54th Street and Broadway in Manhattan. Google Maps. Stolen and missing, 2021-2024.
Above, John J. Fitz Gerald, from the Aug. 15, 1931, Binghamton (NY) Press, pg. 14.
Listen to Robert Emmerich introduce "The Big Apple," a hit song from 1937. Music written by Bob and performed by Tommy Dorsey's Clambake Seven with Bob on piano. Lyrics written by Buddy Bernier and sung by Edythe Wright. Audio provided by Dorothy Emmerich.
Also listen to a 1937 "The Big Apple" song by Ozzie Nelson and his Orchestra. See a 1929 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald and a 1931 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald.
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