when elf on shelf start

The "Elf on the Shelf" tradition started in 2005, when a company called CCA & B created the first Elf on the Shelf doll. The story behind the tradition is that Santa Claus sends his elves to households across the world to watch over children and report back to him about their behavior. The elf hides in the home during the day, and at night, it flies back to the North Pole to report to Santa. The tradition has since become a popular holiday tradition, with families adopting their own elves and giving them names and personalities.