'The Elf on the Shelf' fad becomes a tradition

In the nearly 10 years since a mother-daughter team from Georgia self-published family tales of "The Elf On The Shelf," millions of watchful elves have joined families nationwide.

A 25-page hardcover book comes with a 10-inch male or female "The Elf On The Shelf" doll who - upon being named by the family - is entrusted with the duty of monitoring household behavior for good ol' Saint Nick, who gets reports from the elf each evening back in the North Pole.

When the elf returns in the morning, he is in a new place, wearing new clothes or involved in a new activity and is not to be touched by house members.

The book is sold locally at Kids' Ketch toy store in Lewes and Browseabout Books in Rehoboth, where store managers report sales of "The Elf On A Shelf" have remained steady.  For families who already have an elf, accessories are released yearly to add a little more adventure to nightly elvin travels.

Kids' Ketch owner Teresa Ford explains each morning, the return of the elf adds a little excitement to the season.

"The kids get a big kick out of where he lands in the morning," Ford said. "It's a really great tradition, and I think kids really do watch their behavior."

At Browseabout Books, manager Alex Colevas said "The Elf On The Shelf" book and doll are available year-round, but by late September and early October, they start generating interest, so the store brings in more stock.

Elf activity books, clothing, accessories and DVDs all complement a new tradition that Colevas, mother of two elementary school-age children, said her family will indulge in this year, for the first time.

"My daughter kind of shamed me into it," she said. "All her friends have one, there's one in the classroom, and she just says it's so much fun."

Since the elf returns to a new place each day, part of the fun involves creating a vignette about his travels or activity while he was keeping an eye on the house.

Colevas said she will leave her husband in charge of assisting the elf with his  travels.

"He has more of a mischievous, creative sense of humor than I do," Colevas said. "He has big plans for the elf."

While Kids' Ketch also offers many accessories for the authoritarian elves, Ford has more recently added the elf's Jewish counterpart, "Mensch On A Bench."

Created by a Jewish father not long after the elf phenomenon began, "Mensch On A Bench" is a book-and-doll set that tells the story of Mosche the Mensch, who, according to the story, helped Judah Maccabee in the temple.

The mensch, which means person of integrity or honor in Yiddish, played dreidel and loved gelt. He keeps watch and holds a shamash candle to light the menorah over eight nights.

Each night, Mosche moves to a new place to light the menorah, but if children misbehave, he holds tight to the shamash candle, and children may not get any gifts.

Families are encouraged to name their mensch to activate his Hanukkah powers and take pictures with the doll before he moves to another location with the shamash candle.

No matter what holiday the family celebrates this season, these new stories promise there are watchful eyes out looking for good behavior.

While the mensch promises to put the funukkah in Hanukkah, new family traditions are putting the Happy in Holidays.

READ ENTIRE 2015 'TIS THE SEASON BOOKLET »