When does your elf on the shelf arrive?

[EMom]

I am torn between starting the day after Thanksgiving or December 1, so he can arrive with the advent calendar.

Plus, Thanksgiving is really early this year. Lots of work in that extra week.

What do you do?

 

[low-key]

never, Im not aware of this tradition

 

[Cantw8]

never, Im not aware of this tradition

you are so old

 

[jennyjinx3]

Ours will arrive again on Dec 1.

 

[shinysparklybubbles]

Black Friday. I didn't realize how early it was when I told my son that is when he arrives. Now I am kicking myself for that. But, it will all be worth it because my son is so excited for Nothing to return. Yes, our elf is named Nothing. When my son was younger my friend was over (who my son adores because he is a fire fighter) and said "Nothing" to my son in response to something and my son thought that word was hilarious.

 

[shinysparklybubbles]

never, Im not aware of this tradition

You should get one, everyone needs a creepy little Elf in their house.

 

[low-key]

you are so old

 

[Cantw8]

 

[Princess Bette]

I am torn between starting the day after Thanksgiving or December 1, so he can arrive with the advent calendar.

Plus, Thanksgiving is really early this year. Lots of work in that extra week.

What do you do?

We got ours during the middle of last years Christmas season. My DS had asking for weeks when Skippy was coming...he showed up last week. I know...it's a bit early...please don't flame me! However, I can say that next year he must wait until after Thanksgiving!

 

[ebtbmom]

December 1, any earlier and Flurry gets really tired of his shenanigans and ready to head back to the North Pole.

 

[Shugardrawers]

never, Im not aware of this tradition

you are so old

So would someone like to enlighten us old farts?

 

[shinysparklybubbles]

So would someone like to enlighten us old farts?

The Elf comes from Santa and watches to see if you are being good and every night while you are asleep flies back to the North Pole to report to Santa. When you wake up in the morning he/she is in a different spot in your house. You can't touch the elf or it will lose its magic and won't be able to fly back to Santa. We do let our son hug him good bye on Christmas Eve and put him on the Christmas tree for Santa to take him back home.

 

[Ceila]

The Elf comes from Santa and watches to see if you are being good and every night while you are asleep flies back to the North Pole to report to Santa. When you wake up in the morning he/she is in a different spot in your house. You can't touch the elf or it will lose its magic and won't be able to fly back to Santa. We do let our son hug him good bye on Christmas Eve and put him on the Christmas tree for Santa to take him back home.

That's the "official" version. Ours are more fun, and instead of the creepy one that comes with the book, I bought two cute elves from Hallmark a few years ago (one for each of our kids, so they could each have one for their own children when and if that time comes).

When ours came they had a note saying that they are elf students who are learning how children play, and they would be visiting our kids to see what they like to play with. When they're here, they get into mischief and also sometimes bring little presents. They have to be by the Christmas tree every night so they can travel back home to visit their mom and dad. There is no loss of magic if you touch them and none of the spying on kids nonsense.

Our son has been in on the Santa secret for a while now, and we know our daughter "knows" but she isn't quite ready to let go yet. So the elves will be back again this year!

 

[tvguy]

So would someone like to enlighten us old farts?

Well, old fart here with Google.

Basically a marketing tool dating way way back to 2005 launched with a s of children's book. So, for some it's a family tradition dating back almost a quarter of a generation.

So, a fad, not a tradition in my book. Sort of like Duffy the Disney bear. (putting on flame retardant suit)

A quick survey of 10 of us working in a TV newsroom on Thanksgiving morning, only 1 had heard of "Elf on a Shelf" and she has small children. She compared Elk on a Shelf to Chia pets, something you only buy as a joke.

To answer the OP's question, never, my cat would eat him.

 

[design_mom]

Ours doesn't come till St. Nicholas day (Dec 6). The fewer days I have to deal with the elf the better! Bah humbug.

If you can't tell, I am not a fan of the elf... But my daughter "wished, and wished, and wished" for one, so he finally showed up last year.

 

[mom2d&b]

We choose to do a different twist this year. Our kids are now 10 and 13. While they loved it when "Melvin" comes to visit, it is alot of work. This year we have all agreed to "be Melvin" for a week. DD, DS, DH and I will all be responsible for the silliness. I can't wait to see what the family comes up with.

 

[Cruisin]

Well, old fart here with Google.

I'm right there with you. Never heard of this before, but then I don't have any young children anymore either.

Google is my friend