ADVENT CALENDARS!

Today is the 1st of December and all over the country children will be opening their advent calendars for the first time. (Dear daughter mine, even at the age of 25, has been looking forward to opening hers!)

I wondered where the idea for an advent calendar came from so I did a little research about them.

•  The origin of the Advent Calendar can be traced back to the 19th century. The first styles came from German Protestants who made chalk marks on doors or lit candles every day in December until Christmas Eve; to mark the coming of Christmas.
• The first known Advent calendar was made in 1851. Other similar styles were also made to count the days until Christmas such as the Advent clock, the Advent candle and an Advent wreath.
• The first printed Advent calendar was attributed to Gerhard Lang.
• Pictures of scenes from the Bible were also used to count the days until Christmas. Each day a different picture would be hung on the walls of a family’s house until and including Christmas Eve.
• This idea was taken further in the 1900’s when posters and cards were printed in Germany, where twenty four small doors which opened to reveal small Bible pictures and later on Bible verses were also used.
• Sometimes to keep the children interested chocolates were placed behind the doors.
• There was a cardboard shortage during the war years and the making of Advent calendars was suspended.
• Chocolate Advent calendars were mass produced in the 1950’s.
• The largest Advent Calendar was built in 2007 at St. Pancreas Railway Station London to commemorate its refurbishment.
• The most expensive Advent calendar is worth £1.7million. It is made by a jewellery company and contains 24 precious diamonds, which have  numbers engraved on each one representing the days leading up to Christmas.

So now you know a little more about the humble Advent calendar. However, merchandisers have reinvented the Advent calendar to such an extent that you can buy one with almost anything inside.

Here are just a few on offer;
·         Lego filled calendars.
·         Cheese advent calendar
·         24 miniature bottles of a variety of whiskey or gin.
·         Make up and beauty calendars
·         Christmas tree ornaments, decorate your tree daily.
·         A selection of different teas or coffee.
·         Thomas the Tank Engine mini –trains.
·         Bracelet with a charm a day calendar
·         And believe it or not advent calendars for your dog or cat!!
 
Thought for the day:  Say hallo to a brand new day, every day.

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