Could it be true? Anthony Mennella captures footage of his Elf on the Shelf seemingly coming to life.

Christy Heins, of North Aurora, Illinois, shared her exit strategy for getting out of the Elf on the Shelf routine in a hilarious Facebook post on Dec. 3 Dave Quinn is a Senior Editor for PEOPLE.

Families all over the country have an Elf on the Shelf. Learn more about how this Christmas tradition works, including the pros and cons of inviting an elf into your home. Fact checked by Sarah ...