what year did elf on the shelf come out

Elf on the Shelf was first introduced in 2005, but it has become a popular holiday tradition over the past few years. The elf is a magical creature that helps Santa Claus keep track of who has been naughty or nice during the holiday season. It can also move around at night when no one is looking, but it always returns to the same place in the morning so that it can be found again. This game of hide-and-seek helps to create an air of excitement and anticipation around the holidays.