Elf on the Shelf is a well-known Christmas tradition that allows cheeky parents everywhere to enjoy a little mischief and a lot of creativity.
Based on a 2005 children's book of the same name by American authors Carol V. Aebersold and Bell Chanda, it sees mothers and fathers rearranging naughty elves at night while their little ones sleep.
When they wake up, they find the elves in precarious positions, often involving objects around the house, whether it's climbing the walls or stealing their children's sweets.
It's completely up to the parent how far they take the pranks – but is it possible to go too far?
British mother, Beth Watson, passing by @bethwatson1x on the app, TikTok is dividing opinion after she shared a video of her latest Elf on the Shelf prank – featuring her son's dead goldfish.
Mother Beth Watson, who goes by the name @bethwatson1x on the app, is receiving criticism on TikTok after she shared a video of her latest Elf on the Shelf prank – featuring her son's dead goldfish
She wrote: 'Noted we had a dead fish this morning I thought. Brilliant idea for a naughty elf.'
The camera pans to a fishbowl with some live goldfish swimming around, but one dead one is scooped up into a net on the side.
Beth positioned the elf so that he sat on the microwave holding the net, as if he had gone fishing and caught the family pet.
Next to him were some chips and a post-it note that said, “Hey Carter, I caught a fish for tea.” Would you like some chips with that?'
The TikTok was seen by more than 2.3 million people in just three days, with viewers divided over the controversial joke.
One user wrote: 'Talk about traumatizing', while another wrote: 'No I would cry, I remember my mum flushing my fish down the toilet when they died'.
Another viewer commented: 'These parents on my FYP with these elves are really going crazy this year.'
Others agreed: 'That's actually so mean… (definitely something I would do)' and 'this is bad, I love it'.
Beth positioned the elf so that he sat on the microwave holding the net, as if he had gone fishing and caught the family pet
Someone joked: 'This would definitely be traumatic, but this is hilarious. I'd love to see reactions,” prompting Beth to film her son Carter discovering the scene in the morning.
However, some people were not very impressed, with one person commenting on the size of the aquarium: 'The aquarium should be at least a 20, 30 gallon aquarium, goldfish get that big and that's why they die just like in small scale' .
Meanwhile, some said: 'that's just traumatic' and 'Emotional damage!!'.
Someone joked: 'This would definitely be traumatic, but this is hilarious. I'd love to see reactions,” prompting Beth to film her son Carter discovering the scene in the morning.
In the TikTok, she says, “Go look over there,” and her child asks, “Why did they kill it?”
She read the post-it note and he laughed and ran away from the goldfish.
The little one said, “He's dead,” and his mother replied, “I think so, don't you?” What are we going to do with it? Can you believe he has a fish?'
However, the youngster seemed to find the situation funny, with one commenter writing 'awesome what a bubbly little boy, you absolutely love this reaction'.
Another said: 'Bless him he took it so well! Actually a nice way to tell him he's dead, he smiles and laughs!'
Others joked: 'This is hilarious', 'Aw he took that like a champ' and 'Brave for posting this, the fish police will be on the scene'.
It comes just after a shocked four-year-old beat her mischievous elf toy 'to death' – after spotting toilet paper thrown across the living room.
Tamara Castle, 26, from Bexley, Kent, organized the festive prank for her daughter Betsy on the morning of December 1.
But the shocked toddler was furious when she saw what had been done and 'killed' the Elves Behavin Badly doll in anger.