Why the Christmas Spirit Is Fading and How to Bring It Back

Before I'm arrested, one final thing. Do you want a present? I feel like the Christmas spirit has completely erased lately. It's dying. Get out of here. And I feel like it's my responsibility as an elf. You guys are being asked to leave the property entirely to be trespass to help. Pete literally just got arrested. I'm freaking out. I am setting out to investigate the year's holiday spirit and ultimately answer the question, where the did the magic go? So in order to do this, I followed the advice of our king.

Best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud. So forcing Christmas spirit down their throat. Me and my team harnessed some extra holiday magic and set out to the grove to get some answers. I'm going to keep us updated with the tracker as we go. Location, the Grove. My theory right now, people want magic, but only when someone opts in. They need a push. And I'm here to test that theory. And suspect I think is the peer pressure and skepticism holding people back. We'll see what happens. Come on. Good to see you. Oh my god, you guys. famous. Oh, for like Hey, do you know where the Christmas cheer went? Died a long time ago.

Do you feel that, too? For the most part. Is it just LA or is it I think social media killed everything. Oh, you did? Yes, social media does influence people, but I never thought about it actually impacting the holiday spirit. Wait, where do you think the Christmas cheer went? Is it just like we're getting old and everything's getting dull, or do you think it's LA? It's Donald Trump. Like 10 years ago, it still felt that way. No, it was better. That's true. It was declining, but it's declined much going forward. That's true. Thank you.

Wait, Isaiah, do you think it's possible to get the Christmas spirit back with alcohol? Is that what you're saying? Cup of Christmas cheer. Yes. Why aren't you in the spirit? Oh, no. We're not dressing. It's corporate, baby. Unfortunately, like the costume is not allowed on the girls property. The costume? Yeah. And now you're doing your job. Thank you. Yeah. You can change in the restroom if you want. Can I talk to the supervisor?

Yeah. Let me check. Yeah. Okay. All right. Bye. All right. So, my second supervisor Oh, crap. said the costume's not allowed. So, we're going to have another supervisor come and they're going to reconfirm with you guys. Okay. Do you want to wait or do you want to Well, where would I be able to change? We can go change. Well, actually, we have to stand by for the supervisor that way. How's your day going? It's going good. My supervisor if you want to talk to him. Where? This person. Hi. I just want to talk about my outfit.

Yeah. It's not allowed on the property. you guys unless it's priority approved by our management for an event or something of the sorts like our senate house for example in our private property we have our policies we don't want we just don't want anyone to be in costume okay so where's where's the bathroom what qualifies as a costume in the United I don't understand like what qualifies as a costume we're wearing clothing no like how is this how do you determine because he's dressed like an elf if I can visually tell that he's dressed as something of a costume that's that's how we're going to end up okay so it's Where's the bathroom?

Straight down that right. Okay. Thank you. Wait, let's just go back there. Let's go back to the car. Wait, let's just do Santa really fast. Hi. What's so funny? Are you excited for Christmas? I was on a mission to get to Santa's workshop. Hi. But then I was just like clocked immediately. Hey guys, sorry I'm late. Wait, is this the wrong place? Sorry. We'll just have to use off to the side just because we can't have any filming happening right in front of the house. That's why.

Oh, wait. Any what? Filming. You saw that? Damn it. Ruined the plans. No, it's okay. Thank you. Hi. So, just to give you a rundown, I'm just trying to spread Christmas cheer, but it's getting a little chaotic. I already got kicked out, but I'm not leaving. And I'm just trying to like hide. Hi, I'm Buddy. Nice to meet you. Happy holiday. Happy holidays. Merry Christmas. Although I felt like I wasn't welcome there as Buddy the Elf, the people made me feel welcome. I felt like I was actually bringing joy into people's lives by just being Buddy the Elf. Christmas. I don't know why there was a problem. Oh my god, this is so funny. Merry Christmas.

Oh my god. He said the Christmas spirit is in here, but just him. I was trying to get on and ride. I know. Oh, I'm like he's so close. Since holiday shopping is so stressful, I thought I'd bring a little magic into the retail stores. 20% off if you use code elf. All right, Wait, why get that when you get four presents in one? Four presents? I know. Yes. Here, I'll let you have it. Wow.

Christmas cheer. That's pretty ugly, actually. Never mind. Well, matches. Okay. So, this will give you so much Christmas cheer. Thank you. Here, let me put it on for you. All right. So, turn around. Are you brother or boyfriend? Brother. Actually, that's so cute. Period. Okay. Now, make sure you like buy bubbles or something later. Okay. Bye. I'm so good at this.

Who wants to kick me out? Let's go. Make sure you use ELF for 20% off. That's elf. Yeah, it's not going to work. To the customers, it felt like I was a blessing, but to the employees, it felt like I was a nuisance. Do not have any Christmas holiday stuff. We have like Fred and sex with the friend. That would be the most It would say festive like it's right over there in the front. Okay. Why don't you do Christmas? I know you're able to kind of create your own Christmas kind of festivities with it, but it's a nice space. I was Okay, cool. All right. Thank you so much.

Sorry. Can you believe that they said that they have holiday stuff and it's they said it's the red and green in the front of the store, but that's the red pants and that's it. It's crazy. This guy's kicking me out again. Oh no, I feel seen. Leave by the store. And now with that said, by our policy, you guys are being asked to leave the property entirely. Do not come back for the rest of the day. Okay. If you guys do return, we will be trespassing you guys. I thought if we were here, you wouldn't see. We can see everything.

I know it's scary. Just uh head on out. Okay. All right. Thank you. He's a Grinch and he's following us. Okay, I'm going to stop here and update the tracker because I feel like what we've learned now is cheer actually spreads fast until policy shuts it down and the suspect is the authority or the rules. So, my next move, don't quit. Risk it all for the mission. Where's Brett? I don't know where Find Brett and figure out where he's the one arrested. I'm actually so scared that Pete and Carol got arrested right now. Like genuinely not sure.

There's so much security here. Dude, they tried to kick me out of this mall like four times already. Really? Just for having the for having an outfit. Yeah. Oh man, you're bringing too much holiday cheer and I've been kicked out of here like four times be because Yeah. They said it's not allowed and they said they're going to arrest me if they see me again. And I'm like that's like not cool. I'm like, I'm just buddy. I don't know what's happening. Before I'm arrested, one final thing. I want to give this random girl that I saw sitting over there a princess doll and then we'll go.

I have something for you right now. Do you like princesses? Do you want to open a present? You want me to open it for you? I don't know if she'll like it, but you love her. She's excited. Oh, she likes it. This is her. Okay. I was like, "Enjoy the doll." Thank you. He came from the North Pole. It's cold up there. Sorry. It's not a new Tesla, but you One day I'll be there. I've spread Christmas spirit in a way that actually has results.

Yo, are you the Tik Tok guy? How do you recognize me? I was trying to Oh my god, only like three people have so far. My girlfriend loves you. Can you go? Oh my god. Where is she? She's right there. Hi, I'm Buddy the Elf. Nice to meet you. I love Walter. How do you even recognize me? You're on my page all the time. We got to Oh We got to get the out because we've been kicked out so many times. I mean, we haven't. Congrats on the grand opening. Congrats. Come on. Thank you. Merry Christmas. Bye. God, I love her. Except she charged me $40 for 3 hours.

Authority guard literally was chasing after me. He literally chased me and then you guys didn't answer your phone for an hour and I literally thought you were in like mall jail. There's a reoccurring theme here with authority figures and it's like they're trying to suck the joy out of people. And I know it's part of their job for some reason and they're helping, but I don't know. I think there's something here. I learned a lot about authority today, but I also learned when you give somebody a gift, that wonder activates instantly when someone feels seen. And maybe it's hard for them to activate it because they fear authority. How are we

supposed to lift each other up when we're all stuck in a box? So, I'm taking this new theory to where people feel the holiday magic most. Come on, guys. Why is there a giant Christmas tree and the ice isn't around here and there's nobody here? There's no Christmas spirit. Like, nobody's here. Like, it's dying. Let's go investigate. Like, this is the Friday before Christmas. Where is everybody? Shouldn't you have a line of people? like it's Friday before Christmas and you have no business.

Yeah. Times now are so different like people don't came out like most of the people are scared you know there is different things not only like you know the situation now with the Latinos. Has it been busy busier than this? No. Really? No. Last year was busier. Yeah. Merry Christmas and keep spreading joy. Thank you. Same. Thank you. Wait. Where did the Christmas spirit go? I don't know. Do you feel happy? Yes. Okay. Well, you have the Christmas spirit.

Wait, you guys, where did the Christmas spirit go? Where did the Christmas Hi. I love you, by the way. Oh my god. I am working right now. I know. But where did the Christmas spirit go? Um I don't know. Where did he go? Stay. You feel it? Is it because you're on the ice? Yeah, finals are over and it's all here now. Oh, okay. Good to know. Thank you. Merry Christmas. Wow. People have it here. Where do you think the Christmas spirit went?

It's here. It's here at on the ice. All over LA. I don't know. But I can feel it. You can? Yes. Cuz that's why I'm out here. I feel like no one has it anymore. Like it's empty here. It's sad. It's never been like this. Should be more people. Where'd the Christmas spirit go? I don't know. Do you feel it? Yeah. Oh, you do feel it? Yeah, I do. Does she? Same. I'm with her. Adults took the Christmas spirit away from us and we just grew up and tried to be like them. But the Christmas spirit, you could be happy without nothing, you know, long as togetherness of family or those that you love.

All right. Well, you keep spreading the Christmas cheer. Okay. All right. Thank you. I'm counting on you as buddy the elf. Appreciate it. Do you feel it this year? Because I don't feel it since co. So, we're out here investigating. Well, I think Christmas is what you put into it. You have to pursue the spirit and it's all about family and being with the people that you love. I love that. Thank you so much. So, for the most part, I'm learning that people are joyful around holiday things cuz I'm sensing that they feel it by interviewing them. And we have people like her right here thinking she's going

to make a lot of money like she did last year, but she's like, "Yeah, I don't know what happened." She's like, "The Christmas is here. She said that to us, but she's like, "I don't know why people aren't here then." And I'm like, "Okay, it's proximity. It's authority." So now I just need to collect more data. I'm going to go ask more people the same way you did when you were kids. No, it's totally Yeah. What happened? Where'd it go? I don't know. I think we need more presents like what you're doing right now.

Why are you guys wearing all black? Where did the Christmas spirit go? Christmas spirit is here. Do you actually feel the same way you did when you were a kid? Yes. Now, unfortunately, I do have to say this as I can't talk any press badges. Oh, no. All right. So, unfortunately, I can't talk any longer. Oh. Oh, sorry. This is my third year as a manager. Oh, you're a manager. I'm a manager. This is crazy because even though we feel so much more Christmas spirit here, we still just got kicked out. He said, "I'm sorry. I have to be the bad guy."

And you know what? It's authority. He's the supervisor. We have a theme going on. You carry it wherever you go. I don't put any stock in government. I don't put any stock in the economy. It's just you. Christmas is all about love, giving, and most of all, well, the love of Jesus. So, do you feel the Christmas spirit? Yes. Is it because you're ice skating right now? Yes. Will you feel the Christmas spirit tomorrow? Yes. Merry Christmas. Are you a YouTuber?

I am Buddy the Elf. What do you mean? Both of you. Your mom, not you. Oh, I used to. Wait, that's so funny. What's your name? Nice to meet you. Merry Christmas. Oh my god. Thank you. You feeling this you? Dude. Oh my god. I love Where'd you get that? Okay, I have to do that. Merry Christmas. He's a YouTuber. Look, it's real Pharaoh. You, too. And that's what it's like to spread Christmas cheer.

Hi. Oh no, it's muddy. Oh no. Where do you think the Christmas spirit went? I don't know. We just need to get more in the mood. We need to feel more like children. Can you promise me you're going to do that? I promise. Okay. Merry Christmas. Oh my god. Must just died. Are you on TikTok? Yeah. We were just What? We didn't know if it was you. like is this the guy? Oh, you still kind of saw at the house, right? Like you make videos.

Yes. GINGER. It lives within, right? You have to just Well, then why is no one feeling it within anymore? And it's radiating nowhere. I feel it within and I radiate everywhere. You're a teacher. Maybe Santa's at the North Pole. Oh, yeah. Is he making my presents? Yeah, duh. After he delivers mine. What do you want for Christmas? I'll tell Cena. A PC. Not a Mac. Why? Because why? Anything else you wanted to say or no?

Come out to Persian Square. We're here to January 11th. Spread some Christmas cheer. Well, technically I'm not even supposed to. Okay. But honestly, you guys have been the most respected influencers. Oh, I'm so glad. For real. Merry Christmas. Where is his hat? 20 minutes ago. I dropped my hat. Someone definitely took it cuz we only know from here to here. But it's okay. I feel like sacrificed a big part of me to spread the Christmas cheer. Hopefully I'm keeping somebody warm tonight who didn't have a hat.

Could you see the hat fall off me at any point tonight? No. Final conclusion after I lost my hat but got my quesadilla is that the Christmas spirit is within us but it's also within other people to bring us the light. And you definitely did help me get more in the Christmas spirit and I think you definitely helped some people tonight. Thanks for spreading Christmas cheer. And I know somebody will give you a new You're right. All right. Here's where we're at. People feel it, but they're scared to allow it socially and lawfully because of authority and social pressure. And I found a place where people need holiday cheer the most. So, I booked a charity event for us to

go to tomorrow. But the problem is you just sent me this email. Read it. This is insane. I know. Okay. Hi, Pete. Thank you for the additional context and for sharing more about your vision for the video. We truly appreciate the care and thoughtfulness behind want to uplift the community and highlight something during the holidays. So, did you explain to her what we were doing? Mhm. Okay. All right. Um, after discussing, we want to be transparent that this is no longer the best fit. We are incredibly grateful for your interest, your generosity of spirit, and intention behind wanting to give back. That was nice.

Thank you again for understanding. I got it. I just had an epiphany. Just like when I go to ghost places, I'm like, "The cameras went out and I have to type on the screen like the cameras randomly went out." It's like everyone's gonna be like, "Okay." It's the same thing. Like in order to tell a story as an artist, I have to be a beginning, middle, and end. I have to make people feel inspired so that they help, so that they donate, so that they can feel like they're spreading the Christmas spirit. That's actually crazy. This when we go to the ice skating rink, the guy was saying that was the nicest influencer he's met in like the last three years. So maybe the person who emailed me back from the charity is nervous that I'm

going to be like what they know and maybe we just got the sign tonight that like we have changed people's minds Yeah. And like he was trying to kick us out but then he was like lowkey like you can hang out. Yeah. Like that's a huge improvement from the Grove last night. We're making progress. No, because I do think influencers have ruined it. Yeah, I understand. This is annoying, especially in LA. But then like it's like how are you going to change something if everyone doesn't want change? So you got to literally just put yourself out there. So let's still go to the charity

tomorrow. Maybe we just go and drop off a gift or we go and do something. So let's think about that tonight and then I'll pick you up at noon. All right, sounds good. I feel like I've learned that we have the Christmas spirit inside ourselves, but a lot of times we need it from other people to share it with us. But I find it ironic that the authority figures aren't allowing us to do that. And this is a great example. It's like this is part of the story, but then it's like we can't even shoot it. They're not giving us a chance. So this is what we're going to do instead. We're going to get something for them. Give them Christmas spirit through the gift.

Do we set the price tag? Let's see. No. I'm taller. I could possibly you fell. I'd be dead. Do you have a Christmas spirit? How do you feel with friends and family? Does that scream hope? Do you feel Christmas spirit? I kind of get tired of the Christmas Same song. Yeah. It's like Mariah Carey like 80 80th time in a row. We'll keep spreading that Christmas. Oh yeah. Thank you guys for it this year. Oh yeah, definitely. It's an odd thing we're doing, but it's the way I story tell.

Yeah, for real. When you need more holiday cheer, ring this bell for all to hear. It looks so good. It does. Yeah, it looks great. What's your name again? Jasmine. Okay. Hi. Um, wonder if Jasmine is available. Oh, hi. So, we were the ones that were going to come to volunteer. Instead, we just wanted to drop something off for everybody. Christmas spirit for you guys. Thanks. Can we play it? Oh my god. Yeah, do whatever. It's your guys's now. Do you want to let your card or something? No, no, no, no, no. Well, merry Christmas, you guys. Best of luck. Bye.

Oh my god. So curious. Wait. Oh no. Okay. It's a lot. And they got recognized as I was leaving. Hear somebody asking your name. They were not happy at first. Really? Yeah. Oh, she's filming me. She was filming you. I saw I got on a camera, too. Yeah, she was filming you. Like, it started out being like, "Oh, this is going to be a problem." Kind of like everywhere we've we've been. Yeah. And it's like as soon as they give me a chance, I can actually deliver. I think we helped open their eyes like the

manager at the ice skating ring. And I think I'm realizing that about myself through this video actually. No one's perfect, you know? Like, let us try and love each other because we're so deprived of connection. Maybe part of this is also like when people decide that they want to be attorneys, they understand can't actually change anything unless they change the laws. So maybe like that's what we need to do next year for Christmas spirit. Reach the authorities first, you know, change the laws so that they can change it for the people. Exactly. Yeah. Because now we know we can do that. My brain is braining. So why does Christmas feel different now? I think if you listen close enough,

you heard the answer in this video. lives within the people and most of all let's get it right next year. Bye. Have a great time. Wait, get in here. D