Yinzer Elf On A Shelf Christmas Card Debuts

PITTSBURGH, PA — For a uniquely Pittsburgh spin on Christmas, few things have topped the offerings of Pittsburgh Yinzer Greetings. This year is no different, with a new Yinzer Elf On A Shelf Christmas card and Yinzer Elf Candy Bar.

The products are the creations of three of the city most clever personalities: comedian Jim Krenn, KDKA-AM host Larry Richert and cartoonist Rob Rogers.

”Around our house, the Christmas season is full of family time and fun traditions,” Krenn said.

"One of my favorites is waking up every morning to imagine what kind of happiness and hoopla the Yinzer Elf On A Shelf got into while we were asleep. Our Yinzer Elf knows how to make the holidays a time of joy, celebration, and craziness so why not do it in a way that is super fun?"

Fun for western Pennsylvania residents and expatriates alike, the Yinzer Elf card and candy bar poke gentle fun at the popular Christmas tradition of a “scout elf” sitting on a shelf or table to monitor the children's behavior as the holiday approaches.

The Yinzer Elf holds a cup of “eggnog ‘n at” and a Stillers foam #1 hand while proclaiming “Santa sent me dahn here to make sure yinz kids ain’t rootin’ fer Cleveland.” The shelf comes complete with a jar of gum bands and a Yinzer cookbook titled "Fries On Everything."

The greeting card and candy bar will be available in the greeting card departments of Pittsburgh-area Giant Eagle, Market District and Hallmark stores, select 7-Eleven stores, Ambridge Do-It-Best Home Center, Riverstone Books or online at www.yinzercards.com. The Yinzer card retails for $4.99 and the Yinzer Bar is $2.99.

Other Christmas-themed Pittsburgh-centric cards include the traditional placing of a chair on the street outside a home - only in this version the chair is on the roof next to a chimney “saving a spot for Santa” and wishing the recipient a “very, merry Pittsburgh Christmas.”

A second acknowledges Pittsburgh’s love for the black and gold as a Christmas tree sports bulbs with the steel mark. And a third features Christmas carolers singing “for the Stillers omnipotent reigneth. . . Halleluyinz!.”

Along with Christmas cards, Yinzer Cards include fun Pittsburgh greetings for birthdays, anniversaries, get well, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, graduation, new baby, weddings, and Valentine’s Day.

The greeting card and candy bar will be available in the greeting card departments of Pittsburgh-area Giant Eagle, Market District and Hallmark stores, select 7-Eleven stores, Ambridge Do-It-Best Home Center, Riverstone Books or online at www.yinzercards.com. The Yinzer card retails for $4.99 and the Yinzer Bar is $2.99.

A portion of the card sales will benefit Animal Friends.

The cards play to one of Krenn's greatest comedic strengths: the curious dialect of many locals that often compresses the pronunciation of words and phrases.

“Although we’ve changed the pronunciation of many words over the years, ‘yinz’ is the most emblematic of Pittsburghers,” he said. “Locals who speak the Pittsburgh dialect are often referred to as ‘Yinzers.’"

And among Krenn's favorites?

“I always love it when I hear someone say, ‘We went to Gien Iggle to get some beer n ‘at,’ or ‘let’s pump some arn’” he said.

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