what is in an elf on the shelf

An "elf on the shelf" is a holiday tradition that started in the early 2000s. The concept is that families have an elf toy who comes to their home during the Christmas season, hiding in various places and reporting back to Santa Claus about the children's behavior. The elf toy is meant to be a playful way to encourage good behavior from the children in the lead-up to Christmas. Some people take the tradition very seriously, even giving the elf toy a name and making it a part of their holiday routines.