One characteristic could be envy. It might envy the other elves' skills or the attention they get. Another is being grumpy all the time, not wanting to participate in the festive preparations.
The mean elf in a Christmas story is often a character that adds conflict. It might be mean because it's jealous of the other elves' popularity or because it doesn't like the traditional Christmas cheer. Maybe it's been left out of some important elf tasks and is lashing out.
Once upon a time, there was a mean elf named Grump. He was always in a bad mood during Christmas. He didn't like to help make toys like the other elves. Instead, he would try to steal the best materials for himself. One day, Santa found out. Santa sat him down and told him how important it was to be kind and share. Grump didn't listen at first, but as he saw how happy the other elves were being good, he slowly changed his ways.
In a Christmas story, a mean elf could play a role of a troublemaker. It might be jealous of the other elves' good deeds and happiness. So, it could do things like spreading false rumors among the elves or causing chaos in Santa's workshop, which would create problems for everyone involved in the Christmas preparations.
Well, in a Christmas story, an elf is often a symbol of magic and help. If it's 'elf from elf', perhaps it could mean a lineage or a connection between different elves within the story's universe. Maybe one elf is descended from another, or they are part of a special group where the actions of one elf influence or are related to another elf. For example, in some Christmas stories, an older elf might train a younger elf, so the younger elf is 'from' the older one in terms of knowledge and skills.
In many Christmas stories, the elf is a key character. For example, in some tales, elves are the ones who make all the toys in Santa's workshop. They work day and night to ensure that there are enough toys for all the good children around the world. They have special skills like woodworking and sewing, and they add a touch of magic to the Christmas narrative.
The elf in 'A Christmas Story' is part of the Christmas - themed elements in the story. It might be seen in the context of the family's Christmas experiences, like in the store displays or as part of the holiday decorations. But we don't really get a lot of individual backstory for this elf character, so it's mainly there to enhance the overall Christmas atmosphere of the story.