Elf on a shelf?

[giantangryrooster]

I'm not British, I see the elf on a shelf popping up on MN all the time. I've tried googeling it... A Christmas book it says. Actually we inherited one some years ago, but it was binned as it looked spooky to me 😳.

What's the deal/traditions?

Its a relatively new tradition. The Elf arrives at the start of December and gets up to mischief each night then goes home Christmas Eve. My kids are older (14 and 17) and it wasn't a 'thing when they were young

I'm not sure it could really be called a tradition. It didn't exist until 2005!

cardiffmummysays.com/christmas-2/a-beginners-guide-to-elf-on-the-shelf/

It wasn't about in 2005 here. It was more like 2015

It's not a tradition.

From googling it never really came to the UK until 2013 which seems about right

Thank you both. Informative link, but I guess by your username that you are well-connected dementedpixie .

So a snitch/stalker elf (shudders) .

It isn't a UK tradition at all, it's a bit of American commercialism seeping in to the UK.