when did elf on the shelf begin

Elf on the shelf began in 2005 when a woman named Carol Aebersold came up with the idea. Aebersold and her daughter, Chanda Bell, wrote a children's book called "The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition." In the story, Santa sends an elf to live in a child's home and keep an eye on them to make sure they're being good. The book was published in 2005 and the tradition quickly caught on, becoming a popular Christmas tradition.