what is the elf on the shelf story

The elf on the shelf is a beloved Christmas tradition that originated in the late 1970s. It was created by Carol Aebersold, a mother of two who wanted to bring the magic of Christmas into her home. The story goes that Santa sends a scout elf to every household to watch over the children's behavior and report back to Santa each night. The elf can fly back to the North Pole each night to meet with Santa and share what it has seen during the day.