when did elf on a shelf begin

The tradition of the Elf on the Shelf began in the 1970s when Carol Aebersold, a mother of two, published a children's book about a mischievous elf that reports back to Santa each night. The book was a hit, and the idea caught on as a new holiday tradition. Since then, families all over the world have adopted the tradition of the Elf on the Shelf, which has become a beloved part of many families' holiday rituals.