Have you ever got on Pinterest or some other website and saw pictures of an elf and the caption saying “cute placement of elf on the shelf” and wondered what exactly is this elf on the shelf? Well, I’m here to tell you just exactly what Elf on the Shelf is!

Elf on the Shelf is a tradition that was started years ago when Santa first came around. Every year, Santa sent out elves to Elf Adoption Centers where they wait until a family brings them home. The elves hibernate until their family read The Elf on the Shelf, gives the elf a name, and then registers their adoption online. Once they have done all of this, the elves then get their special Christmas magic and becomes a part of the family’s Christmas each and every year.

These are not just any old elves. These elves are scout elves. They watch the children in their families and each and every day to see who is naughty and who is nice. Nothing gets past these elves. They hear every conversation and see every activity that goes on within the household. These elves take their jobs VERY seriously.

Each night, after the family goes to bed, the scout elf uses his magic Christmas powers to fly back to Santa’s workshop at the North Pole to tell Santa who was naughty and who was nice. The elf also gets to then visit with some elf friends where they talk about each other’s families, play with the reindeer, and of course, eat as much of Mrs. Claus’ cookies they can hold in their bellies!

Before the family wakes up each morning, the elf will make its way back to the house. But since these elves like to play games, they do not stay in one spot. They LOVE to play hide-and-seek with their families. Some like to hide in the freezer (probably because it reminds them of the North Pole) while others prefer to sit on the fireplace mantle or hang from the chandelier.

On Christmas Eve, the scout elf will listen for the ringing of Santa’s bell and then fly back to the North Pole. The elves then stay there until the next season, wishing each and every child a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.