Elf somewhere

We received "elf on the shelf" as a gift last year. We hid it from our son, and this year, "Santa" left it on our porch!
I read the book, registered the elf, and a tradition has begun!
I'm not sure if parents use it as a behavior tool or what. I don't think that's fair or right, but that's my opinion!
But for us, I like the idea of tradition! Many people and families don't stick with traditions and more!
I want my family to have and keep traditions!

What traditions do you have? What did you do as a child?