Where Did “Elf on Shelf” Come From? 

Elf on the Shelf is a Christmas tradition where elf scouts are placed in homes to watch over children’s behavior. Each night in December, the elves return to the North Pole to report to Santa. By morning, they reappear in a new hiding spot.

According to Taste of Home, Carol Aebersold and her twin daughters, Chanda Bell, and Christa Pitts, started the fun Elf on the Shelf tradition. In 2005, Carol Aebersold and her two daughters created the “Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition” kit.

Each kit included a book that explained the tradition offered simple ideas for hiding the elf and featured an easy-to-set-up Scout Elf to help families continue the Elf on the Shelf tradition.

There was an elf invasion everywhere, and merrymakers went elf-crazy, giving Elf on the Shelf clothes as a disguise, lending them creative Elf on the Shelf names, and coming up with comical Elf on the Shelf ideas.

The end of November marks the beginning of Scout Elf’s return week. During this time, the elf arrives to carry out its duties and stays until Christmas Eve, when it returns to report its findings to Santa. 

The trend of having an elf on the shelf became especially popular in 2007 when actress Jennifer Garner was seen carrying an Elf on the Shelf kit. 

Elves are “Real” in Iceland

Elves are commonly known as fictional creatures. In Iceland, however, more than half the country believes they’re real (per National Geographic)

In the vicinity of the country’s capital, there are walking tours that explore the possible homes of the elves. In fact, some Icelandic roads have even been rerouted around boulders believed to be the dwelling places of these mystical beings, known as álfar.

According to Icelandic lore, elves are small creatures standing at least 36 inches. They have big pointy ears and wear old-fashioned clothing. Contrary to their commercialized look, they don’t wear pointy hats.

For those curious about the hidden world of elves, an Elf School in Reykjavik offers a three to four-hour course on everything elf-related. Students learn practical and strange experiences about elves and hear hundreds of testimonials about elf sightings.

Why are Elves Associated with Christmas?

Historian and professor Ronald Hutton writes in English Heritage that there is no direct link between elves and Christmas. The association grew over time as folk tales from different cultures merged.

In Nordic and Scandinavian cultures, elves were considered hidden creatures known as guardians of the home, protecting the family, farm, livestock, and crops (via Christmas Central). When mistreated, they unleash their fury and can become mischievous and naughty.

Then, in 1812, the German brothers Grimm penned the folktale “The Elves and the Shoemaker,” about how elves visited a poor shoemaker nightly to help complete his last-minute orders before Christmas. 

The ideas put forth by the Grimms resonated with the rise of Christianity’s Saint Nicholas and Britain’s Father Christmas. As these concepts gradually merged, we eventually saw Santa Claus associated with these helpful little folk by the 20th century.

His supposed helpers had to be extraordinary beings at his command to ensure all the gifts were ready on time. This is how elves were woven into the narrative, drawing from older mythologies to fit the role.

Ever since, they’ve assumed the role of Santa’s little helpers. They help Santa make and prepare all the presents and make sure everyone is nice enough for those Christmas treats.