what is the story elf on a shelf

The story of Elf on the Shelf is a delightful Christmas tradition that originated in Germany in the early 1800s. The legend goes that each year, an elf would fly to the North Pole and report back to Santa on whether or not children were being naughty or nice. The elf was given the name Kris Kringle, and he would watch over families throughout the Christmas season, keeping track of all the children's actions. Eventually, Kris Kringle became a Christmas tradition in many homes, and families would leave out food and treats for the elf as a sign of gratitude for his good work.