History of the Advent Calendar

The Advent Calendar and counting down the days to the celebration of Christmas has been around for more than 150 years and has become a part of our family's Christmas tradition since our children were old enough to count.

The origin of the calendar, like so many of our Christmas traditions, started in Germany back in the 19th century. Many different methods were used. Drawing a chalk line to mark off the days, later lighting a candle every night or putting up small religous pictures marked each day until Christmas. The first printed calendar was produced by Gerhard Lang in Germany. When he was a child, his mother attached little candies to a piece of cardboard and each day Gerhard would take one off. His first (printed) calendar consisted of miniature colored pictures that would be attached to a piece of cardboard each day in December. Later Advent calendars were made with little doors to open on each day. The child might find a small piece of candy, a Christmas picture, a religious picture or a bible verse.

The calendars were very popular until World War II when production was stopped due to the war shortages. After the war the production of calendars resumed in 1946 by Richard Selmer who credits President Eisenhower with helping grow the tradition in the United States during his term of office. A newspaper article at the time showed the Eisenhower grandchildren with The Little Town Advent calendar.

The first Advent calendars were based on 24 days with Christmas Eve as the last night to either put up a picture or take a candy. Today, the traditional German calendars still show 24 days, but in the United States, it's not uncommon to also find ones with 25 days -- the last opening to occur on Christmas Day.

Advent Calendars can be found everywhere Christmas is celebrated and have been made with many different themes. There are permanent ones with little drawers that are opened every day, felt pieces to decorate a tree, religious icons behind the different doors and lots of character Advent calendars. The traditional ones are still a paper/cardboard piece with a small treasure behind the doors. The treasures can range from a beautiful miniature religious picture, perhaps a little wooden toy or even a piece of candy (sure to cause problems when there is more than one child in the household).

In our family we have a tradition that dates back to 1998, when Janete made her first calendars for the kids. Our calendar consists of 19 days starting on Saint Nicholas day, December 6th, and ending on the 24th. She simply chooses a theme and decorates. Toys or treats are hidden and opened daily in the mornings.

St. Nick's Day is celebrated in our community every year with the raising of the village tree (see related pictures), a day in which St. Nick together with an Angel and the Devil walk throughout the town seeking out children good and bad.

Christmas Calendar 2004

Decorated clothes hangers are used to hang numbered bags filled with treats.

Christmas Calendar 2003

Boxes were shaped into houses and the surprises where attached to a string that was pulled out a bit every day.

Christmas Calendar 2002

Reindeer were the theme of the year. Janete cut the deer out of thick cardboard and numbered presents filled the saddle bags.