If you’ve struggled with ideas for your Elf on the Shelf, you have the Aebersold family to thank for that.
What started as a family tradition in the 1970s has become a worldwide phenomenon, with parents doing their best to find new and creative things for their kids to find their elf doing in the days before Christmas. Now, this elf is celebrating its 20th anniversary on the shelf, or in your Christmas tree, or taking a “bath” in a bowl of marshmallows.
How Did Elf on the Shelf Start?
Fisbee, the first elf on the shelf, joined the Aebersold family with the mom, Carol, telling her three children that the pixie-looking elf was watching them. She claimed she would be reporting any bad behavior back to Santa in the days leading up to Christmas.
A few decades later, the family tradition became a holiday tradition for many. Carol and her daughter, Chanda A. Bell, self-published the book The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition in tribute to their family tradition in 2005. This gave families a chance to join in on the fun with a box set that included an elf for readers.
Chanda’s twin sister Christa joined the pair after quitting her job, and the three started The Lumistella Company, which continues to sell books and elves today.