The Story Behind The Elf on the Shelf That Started It All
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Each family has their own festive, kid-friendly Christmas activities they come back to every season. Whether you grew up playing hide-and-seek with your own Elf on the Shelf during the weeks leading up to Christmas Day, or you only bought the popular Scout Elf for the kiddos last Christmas, this trending holiday tradition has become a popular pastime in homes around the world. From creative Elf on the Shelf scenes to elf-sized accessories you can purchase online, the Elf on the Shelf has become a phenomenon. You've probably seen the recognizable figurine all over Facebook and Instagram, and you may be wondering what exactly it is, and how the Elf on the Shelf works. So, let's back up... Keep reading to learn the history of the Elf on the Shelf, including whether or not the Christmas figure is real.
What is Elf on the Shelf?
In its simplest form, The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition is a book that comes with an adorable (or somewhat creepy, depending on your point of view) Scout Elf figurine. The story, written by author Carol Aebersold, follows an elf whose job is to keep an eye on children for Santa. In the days leading up to Christmas, the elf reports back to Santa every night about which children are being naughty or nice. While the story provides parents with a simple way to encourage their children to behave throughout the month of December, it's also a fun activity for the whole family to participate in during the holidays. The Elf on the Shelf also has a pretty interesting origin story.
What is the Elf on the Shelf story?
In 2005, creator Carol Aebersold (a stay-at-home mom at the time) and her daughter, Chanda Bell, published a children’s book called The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition, based on their family’s own Scandinavian holiday tradition that started in the 1970s.
“We had an elf growing up for as long as we can remember. Our elf was named Fisbee, and Fisbee of course would report to Santa Claus at night and be back in a different position in our house the next day,” Christa Pitts, Aebersold’s other daughter, told HuffPost. “We loved it. It was a chance for us to tell Santa directly what maybe we might want for Christmas, or to do good deeds so that Santa would know about them.”
Though Fisbee was like a Christmas ornament for the family at the time, the elf evolved to become more magical over the years for the next generation of kids.
This Christmas tradition wasn’t an overnight hit, though. According to TODAY.com, “When Carol Aebersold and her daughter, Chanda Bell, first tried to sell The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition, every single editor and publisher turned them down.”
So the women published the book themselves. Instead of having a big publisher’s resources to market the book, the women sold it themselves one by one. “It was a bit of guerrilla marketing at first,” Bell told TODAY.com. The family produced 5,000 copies using credit cards and retirement funds, and sold them straight out of their cars and at state fairs.
In addition to explaining their family tradition to people they knew and strangers they didn’t, Pitts also attended trade shows to introduce the book about Santa’s scout to potential buyers.
It slowly picked up steam, and by 2007, actress Jennifer Garner was photographed by paparazzi holding the book, which helped spread the word.
Thanks to a lot of hard work and determination, the elf was a float at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2012. The elf has since spawned other extensions to its franchise, including Elf Pets: A Saint Bernard Tradition, Elf Pets: A Reindeer Tradition, and a movie: An Elf's Story: The Elf on the Shelf. You can also now buy official Elf on the Shelf clothes and costumes, plus other story books and elves.
What is the Elf on the Shelf tradition today?
Much like the creators' household, families around the world participate in this holiday tradition. Once the elf is “sent to your home from the North Pole” (as in, after you buy it), it’s up to parents to facilitate the holiday magic. Your kid will name the elf, which comes in both boy and girl forms, and you can read them the story from the book it comes with.
From there, the magic ensues. Little ones may believe that the elf miraculously appears on shelves, hanging on chandeliers, sitting on fireplace mantels, but truly, moms and dads are the creative geniuses working "behind the curtain."
Come closer to Christmas, you’ll see hundreds of elves all over social media as parents showcase their creativity for where and how they display Santa’s scout. Check out the hashtag on Instagram for#elfontheshelf posts, which have already started to sprout up this year. There are even entire Etsy shops dedicated to providing creative, hilarious ways to display the elves.
What are the Elf on the Shelf rules?
First and foremost: Kids are not allowed to touch the elf. It’s not a toy, after all. And if a child touches the elf, it’ll ruin Christmas — not to be alarmist.
Every night, the elf will go back to home base (the North Pole) to tell Santa if the child or children (whose homes they’re visiting) are being good or bad. When Santa’s scout returns, he or she will be found in a new spot. And of course, it’s up to the parents once again to fulfill what’s on the Christmas wishlist.
Basically, parents, you’re the elves.
Whether you love or hate the Elf on the Shelf, this fictional character changed Christmas forever. If you’ve had it in your home, you can’t deny that it sparks joy in your little ones. If you haven’t had it in your home, you may be missing out on all the fun (or headache), depending on how much holiday cheer and creativity you have in your soul.
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