AIBU to have never heard of Elf on a Shelf before?

[whatsthatcomingoverthehill]

I'm 30-something and this is the first Christmas I can remember where people are going on about some bloody elf. Suddenly seems all over facebook, people complaining about not being able to get one etc etc. Where has this come from? I'm guessing some kind of american import. And what even is it?

[december12]

My hairdresser has just been showing me pictures of the elf in her house, today. That is the very first time I've ever heard mention of it in RL

[HesterShaw]

I have never heard of Elf on a Shelf. Is it more Christmas twattery stuff?

[whatsthatcomingoverthehill]

I think so Hester. Glad it's not just me then.

[2minsofyourtime]

Never heard about it before I read it on here what is it?

[pinkie1982]

Someone on my FB has it for their son.
I have also never heard of it before that.
Google it!

[Jill2015]

I first read about it here. This year is the first time I've noticed them in the local shopping centres. I still didn't check out what they are though.

[s113]

It's a (somewhat creepy-looking) toy elf, supposedly one of Santa's little helpers, who arrives on 1st December and just sits there. He moves every night is moved by the parents so the DCs think he is alive. He supposedly is a bogeyman who reports back to Santa on if the DCs have been good.

Many people take photos of the Elf doing silly things, such as hanging upside down from a lampshade, or playing with other toys.

The official Elf is quite expensive (£25-£30), hence loads of threads about how it's more seasonal money-spinning.

[youareallbonkers]

Nope, I'd never heard of it either. Ridiculous IMO

[Tykeisagirl]

I know one person in RL who does the whole elf thing compleat with a special breakfast that day the elf "turns up". I like most Christmas nonsense but this one is an elf too far.

For what it's worth I had a childhood friend whose parents did something similar with toys. I remember at the time both realising that her parents were behind it and thinking that the whole thing seemed to be trying a bit too hard.

Someone will be along in a minute though to say that all elf sceptics are grinches and we are runining the magic.

[OddBoots]

Nope, YANBU, it's a new thing and a thing that very much divides people. I'm in the 'creepy elf snitch' camp but I know some people think it's a fun little tradition. We've got our own Christmas tradition involving 12 Christmas robins that I'm sure others would think odd though.

[HesterShaw]

Bollocks to that.

[WD41]

I've known about it for a few years and think it's really daft

It's definitely a bit try hard, like trying to force a tradition

Don't people have enough to do at this time of year without worrying about what to do with a sodding elf every day?

Also think it dilutes the whole magic of Father Christmas a bit

it's not for the kids though, it's just so people can take photos and post on FB

[throckenholt]

Another one with no idea what it is signing in.

I have survived quite well to nearly 50 without knowing what it is.

[LumionaMoonsplash]

Its the first time we're doing it, don't know of anyothers IRL doing it. I'm finding it a bit of a hassle tbh but DC are loving it. I just bought a soft toy elf, not the official one.

[Wolfbasher]

I have just eaten the last mince pie and blamed it on the elf by leaving the empty foil case on his lap. Ha.

[throckenholt]

ah - enlightenment ! According to an article in the Daily fail from last year it is a "tradition" dating back eight years

That's alright then.

[Hatespiders]

I'd never heard of this before. Sounds bloody ridiculous, and a bit sinister too, like a sort of Nursery Gestapo. I'm not surprised it involves buying something though. These new 'ideas' usually do.

[ApocalypseNowt]

Never heard of it before this year.

I'm going to introduce an 'imp in a gimp mask' that watches for good/bad behaviour all year round. I'll post pics of him menacingly watching the dc and dh sleep and stuff to ramp up the paranoia.

[GloriousGloria]

I love elf on a shelf, or rather I love my friends elf on a shelf.

She makes him get up to all sorts of shenanigans she says it's for the children but I think she really does it for us as he gets posted over Facebook every day.

He is creepy looking but I'm still amused.

[BreconBeBuggered]

Eight years? I swear I'd never heard of it till I saw threads about it on here a couple of weeks back. Couldn't be arsed to look it up and thought it was some film spin-off or something.

[DownstairsMixUp]

It just came from nowhere! There was no elves on my facebook last year. He is a bit off to. Can't say I'll be doing it. Youngest Ds is only 3 months anyway and eldest would just want to play with it and get annoyed trying to find it.

[Mammanat222]

Never heard of it until very recently, sounds a bit creepy if you ask me!