We Americans love our traditions. They give us a sense of comfort and continuity, wrapping us in the warm blanket of shared history. Whenever we gather for holidays or community events, we usually assume that our great-great-grandparents did the same things. However, history likes to play tricks on us. Most of the customs that feel as old as the hills started during our lifetimes, or maybe when our parents were young. So, here are some beloved American traditions that are much younger than they seem.
#1: The Elf on the Shelf (2005)
This little scout elf feels like something out of our grandparents’ folklore. In truth, a mother and daughter team self-published the book and toy box set in 2005. Before that, parents just told their children that Santa was watching them. We had the general idea of holiday magic, but not a doll physically spying from the curtain rod. It was a very clever marketing campaign that turned a brand-new product into an instant family requirement.
