A general view of an Elf on the Shelf doll as seen in Hawthorne, NJ on December 25, 2022. Christopher Sadowski Pitts said they sold all 5,000 units that year, but it wasn’t easy.

You would've thought Will Ferrell as Buddy the Elf tackling the Christmas tree to put the star on top or his mailroom dancing was the funniest thing I had ever seen in my life the way it cracked ...

"Elf on the Shelf" began in the 2005 book by Carol Aebersold and Chanda Bell, which sees magic elves keeping an eye on children ahead of Santa's visit.

This year, the greeting features elves dressed in yellow and red singing Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree doing all sorts of holiday activities like baking, caroling and cutting paper angels. So ...