Countdown to Christmas: The Advent Calendar
Today, Advent Calendars come in all shapes, sizes and forms and are a significant part of the holiday season.
The fourth Sunday before Christmas marks the beginning of Advent. Advent, which came from the Latin word “adventur,” means “coming.” The four weeks of preparation for Christmas begin with Advent Sunday. In Western churches, Advent Sunday is the first day of Advent. For most families, the countdown for Christmas is not complete without the Advent calendar.
The Origins of the Advent Calendar
The tradition of counting down the days before Christmas can be traced to the people that brought the world Christmas cookies and the practice of decorating Christmas trees. German Lutherans during the early 19th century drew lines on their doors with chalk to count down the days before the nativity of Christ. For some historians, the first Advent calendar was made in 1851. Some claim that the first Advent calendar was made by a bookshop in Hamburg and was called the ‘Christmas Clock.’ A newspaper in Stuttgart also produced an early version of the Advent calendar, by including one in the pages of their paper.
Gerhard Lang-the Man behind the Modern Advent Calendar
The man mostly associated with the modern Advent calendar is Gerhard Lang from Germany. He was first to mass-produce the version of the calendar we know today, which contains a picture for each day of December before Christmas, in 1908. His first version however did not have windows and this was only produced in the late 20th century. Supply shortages halted the production of the Advent calendar during the Second World War; production was resumed by Richard Selmer in 1946. It is believed that President Eisenhower made the calendar popular in the United States, by appearing on the pages of a newspaper with his grandchildren with an Advent calendar.
Innovating the Advent Calendar
Traditionally the Advent calendar is made from two paperboards on top of each other. Flaps or windows are cut to open and reveal a picture related to Christmas. These days however, innovative versions of the Advent calendars are made. Some families hang a calendar with sewn pockets that have treats inside. Children put their hand inside one pocket each day to claim the treat. The most popular treat of course, is chocolate. Putting chocolate in Advent calendars was a practice that began in 1958. Lego has popularized an Advent calendar that contains a Lego piece behind every window for the children’s enjoyment.
Other new forms of calendars for children are sticker books and puzzles. Other styles have a more educational approach and the calendars can appear in the form of a book, with a corresponding story for each day. Advent calendars, also known as “countdown calendars” are now collectibles, some made of expensive wood painted and carved with intricate designs.
The Internet is the place to find ‘online Advent calendars,’ an interactive calendar for Internet surfers. The website of the Advent calendar usually offers browsers a special Christmas activity for each day before Christmas they click. In some cultures, as in Scandinavia they have Julekalender programs; or a series of TV specials for each night before Christmas day. Some calendars are also made with more windows to include the countdown before New Year’s Eve.