Somewhere between leftover pie and the first frantic hunt for wrapping paper, he appears – the Elf on the Shelf. One day he’s sitting sweetly on the mantel; the next, he’s zip-lining through the living room or fishing in the dog’s water bowl. This tiny red joker has become a modern December legend – equal parts charm and chaos.

20 years ago, a mother-daughter duo from Georgia dreamed him up – a cheerful scout sent from the North Pole to keep tabs on children and report to Santa each night. A lovely idea… until parents everywhere realized they’d committed to a month of 11 p.m. elf gymnastics. The things we do for magic, right?

What’s amazing is how this little felt figure has turned into a global phenomenon. Millions of homes now host their own elves, each with a name, personality, and an impressive flair for mischief.

One of my favourite parts of the season is watching what my cousin Sandy and her husband Chris (the mastermind behind it all) create for their two boys. They go all out – every scene planned to the finest detail. Their elf Buddy has staged the Elf Spa with a sink filled with marshmallows, built a LEGO® snowman, and replicated Mission Impossible by hanging upside down to steal baked cookies. The Elf on the Shelf is creative parenting at its absolute best – and it reminds me how much joy a little imagination can spark.

That’s really what the Elf on the Shelf is about – the stories, the laughter, the moments of pure surprise. He brings back that rare December feeling that anything can happen overnight, that magic still exists in the smallest places (and sometimes, under the Christmas tree).

So, as we wrap up another whirlwind year, maybe we should all take a cue from the elf: keep things light, stay curious, and sprinkle a little mischief where you can. Life’s too short not to laugh at a tiny toy covered in flour making “snow angels” on your countertop.

Here’s to the elves, to the parents who make the magic happen, and to the cousins like Sandy and Chris who remind us of what wonder looks like in action.