The Story Behind the Elf on the Shelf Christmas Tradition

The Story Behind Elf on the Shelf

Elf on the Shelf has become a beloved Christmas tradition in many households. For those unfamiliar, the Elf on the Shelf is a small elf sent from the North Pole to watch over children in the weeks leading up to Christmas. The elf keeps an eye on the kids to report back to Santa if they have been naughty or nice. But this little spy also gets up to some mischief of his own! Here is a look at the origins and story behind this sneaky little scout elf.

The Book That Started It All

The Elf on the Shelf book was written in 2005 by mother-daughter duo Carol Aebersold and Chanda Bell. As a holiday tradition in their own family, the pair thought up the idea of a scout elf keeping watch over children at Christmas time. Together they wrote the rhyming children’s book The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition and self-published it. The book tells the story of how Santa sends a scout elf to homes for the holiday season. Each night the elf flies back to the North Pole to report to Santa on the day’s events. And each morning before the family wakes, the elf returns to his post and gets into a new spot for the kids to find him.

How the Tradition Works

Families who adopt an elf receive a small scout elf and a copy of The Elf on the Shelf book. The family reads the book together and gives their elf a name. Each morning of the holiday season the children excitedly search to see where the elf is hiding that day. The elf’s job is to keep an eye on the kids and monitor their behavior. The family reminds the children that the elf cannot talk or move while they are awake. The magic only happens once everyone goes to sleep!

After the kids go to bed, the parents place the elf in a new spot for the morning surprise. The elf might get caught raiding the pantry for candy or making mischief around the house. Sometimes notes are left behind from “Elf Headquarters” at the North Pole. Seeing what the elf gets up to each night is all part of the fun!

Why Families Love Elf on the Shelf

There are many reasons the Elf on the Shelf has become such a popular tradition for families.

• It adds to the Christmas excitement and countdown to the holiday.
• Kids enjoy finding the elf each morning and seeing what he is up to.
• The elf encourages good behavior in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
• It allows parents to get creative and have fun staging scenes for their kids.
• The elf becomes a beloved part of the holiday season and Christmas memories.

Of course some families choose not to adopt an Elf on the Shelf. The commitment to moving the elf and thinking up ideas every night can be challenging. Other parents may not feel comfortable using the elf to influence their children’s behavior. But millions of households embrace the tradition and enjoy what the sneaky little scout elf brings to their Christmas season.

Fun Ideas for Elf Antics

Coming up with new elf ideas each night can take creativity. Here are some fun suggestions to get your elf into mischief:

• Make a mess of flour or powdered sugar in the kitchen
• TP the Christmas tree or toilet paper the living room
• Leave behind silly notes or rhyming clues
• Get stuck in a tissue box, lamp, or another funny spot
• Go fishing in the fish tank or take a bubble bath
• Get caught playing with toys or raiding the candy stash
• Leave craft supplies or recipes for kid activities

Online sites like Pinterest have endless inspiration for elf antics. Get creative and have fun with it!

Elf on the Shelf Variations and Accessories

Beyond the traditional Elf on the Shelf scout elf doll, the product line has expanded over the years. Some of the Elf on the Shelf variants and accessories available include:

• Elf Pets - Adoptable Saint Bernard or reindeer pets
• Elf Mates - Boy and girl elf dolls who get into joint mischief
• Elf Accessories - Outfits, pet clothes, activity kits and more
• Letter from Santa Set - Kids can write to Santa and get a reply

There are now over 100 Elf on the Shelf products and accessories to go along with the tradition. Customizing your scout elf helps make the experience unique for each family.

History of Popularity and Impact

After being rejected by several publishers, The Elf on the Shelf book sold just over 5,000 copies in its first year. But the popularity of the Christmas tradition grew steadily through word of mouth. By 2008 over 400,000 elf dolls had been sold. In 2012 Elf on the Shelf made the USA Today Best Selling Toys List for the first time. It reached the number one spot on the list in 2013.

Elf on the Shelf has now sold over 12 million products worldwide. More than 8 million scout elf dolls have found their way into American homes. And the Elf on the Shelf brand is also expanding internationally to places like Mexico, Korea, Dubai, and the UK.

This little elf has had a huge impact on Christmas around the world. For millions of families, the holiday season just wouldn’t be the same without their own Elf on the Shelf tradition.

The Appeal of Elf on the Shelf

So why has this sneaky little scout elf captured the hearts of so many families? There are several reasons the Elf on the Shelf has become such a popular tradition.

Whimsical Christmas Fun

Finding where the elf has landed each morning provides whimsical excitement in the weeks leading up to Christmas. Kids take delight in discovering the elf in silly situations around the house. And the elf’s antics bring an element of fun and wonder to the holiday season.

Family Bonding Experience

Having an Elf on the Shelf becomes a shared experience that brings families together. Parents have fun staging scenes and conspiring to move the elf around at night. Children bond over their shared love of the elf and the anticipation of finding him each morning.

Creative Outlet for Parents

The elf tradition allows parents to tap into their creativity. Coming up with new places and hijinks for the elf for 24 days can be challenging! But parents enjoy putting their imaginative skills to use. It also keeps the parents’ inner child alive.

Santa’s Spy Excitement

Kids love the idea that this little elf is watching them on Santa’s orders. They know he’ll fly back each night to report to the North Pole. This adds to the magical excitement of Christmas in a fun, whimsical way.

Incentivizes Good Behavior

Having an elf on the watch gives kids extra motivation to behave well. After all, they want a good report sent to Santa! But the elf also offers parents a playful way to remind kids to be on their best behavior as Christmas approaches.

Christmas Tradition and Legacy

As a fairly new tradition, the Elf on the Shelf allows families to create their own Christmas legacy. Parents who adopt an elf when their kids are young get to establish a unique tradition. And the kids will hopefully continue the elf tradition with their own families someday.

Cute Family Photos

The elf provides lots of opportunities for adorable holiday photos. Parents have fun arranging their elf in fun poses with the kids, pets, around the house, etc. These joyful elf photos capture family memories and the Christmas spirit.

Controversy and Debate

While millions of families embrace the tradition, Elf on the Shelf does have its critics. Some of the controversy and debate surrounding the scout elf includes:

Pressure to Move the Elf

The daily commitment to move the elf can become tiresome for busy parents. For those lacking in time or creativity, staging elf antics every night can become a burden rather than fun.

Mixed Messages About Behavior

Some experts argue the elf sends mixed messages about behavior motivation. Kids should learn to be good for its own sake, not just because an elf is spying on them.

Lack of Family Time

Time spent plotting the elf’s antics could take away from quality family time. The focus becomes more about the elf than spending time together.

Commercialization of Christmas

Like many popular toys, some see the Elf on the Shelf as a commercial gimmick. It fuels materialism rather than focusing on Christmas values.

Pressure on Kids

For some children, the elf can feel like a burden or source of anxiety. Shy kids may not like the extra attention on them.

Of course millions of families don’t see Elf on the Shelf as harmful or commercialized. But it’s good to be mindful of these criticisms and make the tradition work for your family.

Elf on the Shelf Phenomenon

However you view the scout elf, there’s no denying the incredible popularity of Elf on the Shelf. This whimsical Christmas tradition has become a true cultural phenomenon.

What started as a simple rhyming children’s book has exploded into a hugely successful brand. Over 12 million elf products sold is pretty astonishing for a fairly recent tradition. Major retailers devote entire sections to Elf on the Shelf merchandise.

The elf has inspired endless creative photos on social media and blogs. Type “Elf on the Shelf” into Pinterest and you’ll find over 2 million results of elf ideas and photos. Youtube has hundreds of elf videos of kids finding and reacting to their elf’s antics.

Google Trends data shows a huge spike in searches for “Elf on the Shelf” every December. News articles debate the pros and cons of the tradition. And the hashtag #elfontheshelf receives millions of views on TikTok.

Whether you love or hate the elf, you can’t deny the impact. In the short time since the book’s publication, the Elf on the Shelf has secured a place in American Christmas pop culture.

For families who adopt an elf, the tradition often becomes deeply cherished. Kids grow incredibly attached to their elf year after year. The elf helps build wonderful Christmas memories and brings innocent joy to the holiday season.

So while the commercial aspects and critics give some pause, the Elf on the Shelf has undeniably created a whimsical new Christmas custom. For many households, the Christmas countdown just wouldn’t feel complete now without a visit from their own scout elf!

FAQs

What is Elf on the Shelf?

Elf on the Shelf is a Christmas tradition where a small scout elf doll is sent from the North Pole to watch over children in the weeks leading up to Christmas. The elf keeps an eye on the kids and reports back to Santa each night on who is naughty or nice.

Where did Elf on the Shelf come from?

The tradition originated from the 2005 children's book The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition, written by Carol Aebersold and Chanda Bell. The book tells the story of how Santa sends his scout elves to homes for the holiday season.

What do you do with an Elf on the Shelf?

Families find creative places to hide their elf each morning for the kids to discover when they wake up. The elf moves to a new spot at night after the kids sleep while it returns to the North Pole to report to Santa. Kids anticipate finding the elf every morning.

Why is Elf on the Shelf so popular?

Elf on the Shelf has become popular because it adds excitement to the Christmas season. Kids enjoy finding the mischievous elf every morning and parents have fun plotting out the elf's antics at night.

Is Elf on the Shelf bad for kids?

Some critics argue Elf on the Shelf puts too much pressure on kids' behavior. But most families find the elf brings whimsical fun and incentive for kids to behave in the spirit of Christmas.