Have you ever thought of where and when the Christmas tradition of putting an elf on a shelf to celebrate Christmas came from? Why can’t you touch the elf? Why doesn’t the elf speak or move while you are awake? If you have, The GNA Insider has the answers for you! In case you have never heard of the Elf on the Shelf, the elf is Santa’s scout who will leave each night, go to the north pole, and return to the same house from the previous night. However, the elf will be located in a different spot in the home every day. The elf will report news to Santa as to whether the child they are watching is good or bad.

In an interview with Chanda Bell, the creator of Elf on the Shelf, Martha Stewart reports that inspiration first

struck Bell when she went to visit her mother, Carol Aebersold. While talking, Bell looked up to a shelf where Frisbee (their old treasured family elf) was sitting. She was flooded with memories of her family holidays when one of Santa’s elves would come to her home each year. This simple tradition served as the perfect inspiration for what Bell’s next move would be: to co-write a Christmas book with her mother.

Bell used her holiday tradition to publish a 2005 picture book, called ‘The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition by Carol V. Aebersold and Bell Chanda (pictured above).

After publishing the book with some financial struggles, it quickly gained popularity as parents read the book to their children as Christmas came nearer. Bell and Aebersold helped also to spread the word about the book.

During the past decade, this Elf on the Shelf has experienced much demand, even winning numerous accolades such as the Learning Express’ Best Toy Award for several years.

Now for the interesting part, why can’t the elf on the shelf be touched by children? According to HuffPost, if the elf is touched, then it shall loose its magic, destroying Christmas. The elf is also sworn to secrecy to not speak to anyone at the household, especially to the children in order to keep Christmas a surprise.