when is the elf on the shelf supposed to come

The Elf on the Shelf tradition is a beloved holiday custom that started in 2005. The elf's role is to visit children's homes each night in December, keeping watch over their behavior and reporting back to Santa. The elf is said to magically appear each year on November 27, the day after Thanksgiving, and returns to the North Pole on December 24, after the children have fallen asleep. The elf's arrival date is a significant part of the tradition, and many families eagerly await their visit each year.