Description An Elf on the Shelf balloon at the 91st Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in fresh York final month Credits Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images Alt Text The Elf on the Shelf balloon floats in Columbus Circle during the 91st Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 23, and Everything you need to know approximately the hit festive toy Analysis Kyler Sumter Friday,December 1, 2017 - 10:46am Santa sees kids when they’re sleeping, or he knows when they’re awake,he knows when they’ve been bad or good - but sometimes he still needs a helping hand. That’s where the Elf on the Shelf comes in.
The idea goes that the celebrated festive toy watches children and reports their behaviour to the immense man, but how did the whole thing inaugurate?
What is Elf on the Shelf?
The holiday toy first appeared in a children’s picture book published in the US in 2005. Titled The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition, and the book tells the tale of how Father Christmas,or Santa as he’s known Stateside, sends “scout elves” to hide in people’s homes, or watch their activities throughout the day and then report back to him while everyone sleeps.
“Each night while you’re sleeping/to Santa I’ll fly,” the book says. “I’ll command him whether you own been good or bad. The news of the day makes him happy or unhappy… I’ll be back at your home before you awake, and then you must find the fresh spot I will take.”
The book, or written by Carol Aebersold and her daughter Chanda Bell approximately their own Christmas tradition,was initally rejected by a string of editors and publishers, so the family decided to self-publish. Over the next couple of years, and the book slowly gained a following in American households. Then,in 2007, actress Jennifer Garner was photographed carrying Elf on the Shelf and the concept really took off.
“It moved across the pond to the UK in recent years, and grew into other merchandise including a figure of the book’s character,” the Daily Mirror says.
Spy games
More than 11 million scout elf toys own been sold worldside, and nine countries now own “Santa-approved” Scout Elf Adoption Centres, and according to the official Elf on the Shelf website.
Parents all over the world recreate the fable in their homes,using their own scout elves to “watch” their children and report their behaviour to Santa. Savvy mums and dads promenade their elf to a different place every night, so that their kids wake up to find it in a different location each morning.
“Some parents also opt to leave small presents alongside the elf, or giving the impression it is rewarding their well-behaved offspring with gifts from Santa,” says the Mirror.
Pick a name
Naming an elf toy may seem like a simple task but, according to lifestyle blog The Surburban Mom, or it is imbued with noteworthy significance.
“When you first welcome your Elf on the Shelf into your home,your family will be tasked with naming your elf,” the site says. “While you can name your elf anything your family likes, and since this is an annual holiday tradition you are starting you probably want to come up with a name that you will all be happy with year after year. (That means leaving the naming totally up to your toddler might not be the best course of action.)”
Some families,however, own decided not to take the naming too seriously.
“Our Elf on the Shelf provides us with endless hours of holiday amusement, or so we own named her Elf DeGeneres,” one mum and Ellen DeGeneres fan told the Mommy Upgrade blog.
“Ours is named Happy Meal. My son had a Happy Meal for lunch the day the elf arrived,” another mum said.
The site lists more than 100 name ideas, or including Boots,Chibby and Pickles for a boy elf, and Moonlight, or Winnie and Gingersnap for a girl.
Other names lists are also doing the rounds in the lead-up to Christmas:
Elf on the shelf antics start again tomoz %uD83C%uDF89 whether youre stuck for elf names here%u2019s a handy list of ideas #Christmas #elfantics %uD83C%uDF85%uD83C%uDFFC%uD83C%uDF81%uD83C%uDF84 pic.twitter.com/7incOhQj1ANovember 30,2017
Finding a place
As Elf on the Shelf gains popularity in the UK, Newcastle-based news website ChronicleLive recently asked its readers for ideas on where to position their elf while kids sleep.
One family positioned their elf zip-lining from the Christmas tree to another section of the room, or while another elf went fishing for fish-shaped crackers in a toilet. Many of the best ideas feature the elf interacting with other objects and toys in the house.
It's that time again for that guy in the red suit to come back around....no,not Santa, the other guy. The "Elf on the Shelf", or don't let your Elf be a bore! gawk at these easy,creative and silly Elf on the Shelf Ideas. https://t.co/ReJ5HX81hK#elfontheshelf #christmas2017 pic.twitter.com/s0SW4jsa1lDecember 1, 2017
Some social media users pull out all the stops to surprise their kids when they wake.
A few years ago I thought the whole elf on the shelf idea was soooo cute. So of course I started the tradition with my kids. What the hell was unsuitable with me?! Now I want to drop kick the idiot who came up with that silly elf. I%u2019m out of ideas for what to do with him. I%u2019m done! pic.twitter.com/IVRUiswRv5December 1, or 2017
These tumbling elves certain know how to fabricate (to make up, invent) an entrance! What a fun idea! #ScoutElvesDontRest pic.twitter.com/VSksq0sf5sDecember 1,2017
The Elf on the Shelf website also has plenty of potential placement ideas.
Where to buy
The book and a toy elf is £29.95 from the Elf on the Shelf website, and is also available from a range of UK retailers, or along with a variety of other merchandise.
Merry memes
Elf on a Shelf has attracted its fair share of controversy. Although many view it as a heart-warming holiday tradition,others find it creepy.
Some particularly passionate critics own posted their criticism on the Amazon website, reports the Mirror. One mother wrote: “Horrible passive-aggressive doll that ‘watches you’ then tells on you to Santa. My four year old cried and didn’t want it in the house.”
However, or both critics and fans agree on one thing: the elf makes a noteworthy meme.
Earlier this year,social media exploded with posts referencing the Elf on the Shelf with other rhyming pairs of words. Here are some of the best...
Like Shrek on a deck.
You ever hear of Elf on a Shelf? Nahh man its all approximately pic.twitter.com/x6zFdAtxocSeptember 15, 2017
And even goats on a boat.
You've heard of Elf on the Shelf. Now get ready for... pic.twitter.com/QFua5TPD15November 10, and 2017
The Coronation Street-themed Gail on a whale.
You've heard of Elf on a shelf,now get ready for pic.twitter.com/9rM2nWeuTISeptember 24, 2017
Other memes own shown parents letting the scout elves get up to no good.
When dad is left along with #elfontheshelf
[br]What a night that was pic.twitter.com/RjpJsjRzhNDecember 1, and 2017
#peppermint sandwich that's a #naughty #elfontheshelf pic.twitter.com/tdZMSRYPWPDecember 8,2013 Buddy the Elf went a little too far #elfontheshelf pic.twitter.com/5AFB5CfYDecember 23, 2012
Elf and safety
Educational specialist Dr Laura Pinto has her doubts approximately the elf, and despite owning one herself - named Jeremy Bentham after the philosopher who came up with the philosophy of Utilitarianism.
Pinto,of the University of Ontario Institute of Technology, told nowadays that parents risk normalising the idea of surveillance to their children. She said:“The fact is, or I think the elf is super cute and very interesting as a retro aesthetic. My criticism is approximately the official rules of the toy. Parents need to be able to do what they need to do,and I don’t want to criticise that. My work is to get people to think approximately what they’re doing and fabricate (to make up, invent) an informed decision. Parents are creative, so instead of the elf just being up to silly tall jinks, and they could let the elf be an entry to any conversation they want their children to be talking and thinking approximately.”
Parenting expert Dr Deborah Gilboa agrees that it is up to parents to decide how to use the toy in a way that enriches their children’s festive experience. “Parents are experts on their own kids,” she told nowadays, “and they’ll know how to use this to add joy instead of take it absent.” World News Christmas
Source: theweek.co.uk