The Elf on the Shelf has been delightful and divisive for 20 years. Here's how we got here

Arts and Entertainment News The Elf on the Shelf tradition was started by Atlanta mom Carol Aebersold in the 1970s. After Aebersold and her daughter Chanda Bell published "The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition" in 2005, the Elves became a staple in households around the world.(John Bazemore/The Associated Press) Since being thrust into the spotlight in 2005, Elf on the Shelf has become a major cultural phenomenon. It debuted as a float in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2012.(Ted Shaffrey/The Associated Press) The Elf on the Shelf has been delightful and divisive for 20 years. Here's how we got here How an Atlanta mom turned a family tradition into a global phenomenon Santa’s Scout Elves are reporting back to the North Pole tonight, but they’ll be celebrating a major milestone before they go. Twenty years ago, the Elf on the Shelf was introduced to the world, becoming a cherished tradition for kids and a creative headache for parents. It's now a multimillion-dollar brand, boasting a line of elf dolls, their pets and their props, as well as several books, animated specials, a Netflix partnership and a Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade float. But it actually began a tradition started by an Atlanta mom in the 1970s . Here's a look at how it became such a cultural mainstay. From one family's house to SNL Carol Aebersold introduced her children to an elf doll named Fisbee, who would appear in different spots around the house after a nightly “visit” to the North Pole. In 2005 , Aebersold and one of her daughters, Chanda Bell, self-published the book The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition , which became a bestseller and propelled their family tradition into households around the world. Bell and her twin sister Christa Pitts are now co-founders of the Lumistella Company, the parent company behind the Elf on the Shelf. Since then, it's turned into a cultural phenomenon, even inspiring multiple Saturday Night Live sketches. The most recent featured pop star and actress Ariana Grande attending a support group for elves enduring their families' at-times-destructive antics. The Elf on the Shelf and the wider Lumistella Christmas universe to which it belongs is worth at least $100 million US, according to Bloomberg . Since 2005, around 28 million elves and their pets have been sold around the world. Ever-more elaborate elf setups The gist of the tradition is pretty simple. Parents hide an elf doll around the house throughout December, telling their children it's reporting to Santa Clause on their behaviour. However, over the years, it’s turned into an elaborate frenzy, as parents try to outdo their previous elaborate elf setups to keep the tradition fresh for their kids, while having fun themselves. In one example on Reddit , one user posted a photo of their elf sitting atop a pile of cereal inside a toilet bowl, holding onto a spoon. A note stuck to the lid reads, "I made you breakfast." "My wife keeps upping her elf...

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