A Brief History of the Advent Calendar
People have received many different kinds of things over the years for the Holiday seasons; from ugly Christmas sweaters to the occasional fruit cake everyone tends to loathe.
Sometimes calendars, especially Advent Calendars are gifts that you receive in that time between Thanksgiving and Christmas so that you can get into the holiday spirit.
But what is an Advent Calendar exactly? WHats the history of the Advent Calendar? Here is a quick guide to the common calendar you might so little about.
What is an Advent Calendar?
An Advent Calendar is a type of festive calendar that is used to keep track of Advent.
Advent is a period that’s about four weeks long and begins on the first Sunday after the feast of Saint Andrew the Apostle, which is on November 30.
The word Advent derives from the Latin word for coming and it’s the way many people try to count down the days until Christmas Eve.
However, there is evidence that suggests that Advent was originally used for early converts of Christianity to prepare for their baptisms.
The History of the Advent Calendar
Advent Calendars have a long history. As previously stated, it goes back as early as the 4th century for baptism. But the first ones used for Christmas can be traced back to the early 19th century.
German Protestants would use chalk marks and/or candles to identify the days leading up to Christmas. However, the first printed holiday Advent Calendars are credited to Gerhard Lang in the early 20th century.
His first Advent Calendar was filled with twenty-four colored pictures attached to cardboard and soon became a hit in Germany.
After World War II, they made their way to the United States and became extremely popular in the 1950s due to President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
He was once photographed with his grandchildren opening one, and everyone liked Ike so they bought their own calendars.
Types of Advent Calendars
These days, there are many different kinds of advent calendars that you can get. From a tea and coffee advent calendar to a wine advent calendar.
Some of the bestselling advent calendars include luxury chocolate advent calendars and themed holiday advent calendars such as Lego and Harry Potter.
The world’s largest advent calendar was built in London in 2007. The Saint Pancras Train Station Advent calendar stood at over 230 feet and was used as a special decoration for the reopening of the station after it had been renovated.
Get an Advent Calendar Today
The history of the Advent Calendar is long and varied. Just like the Christmas tree and wreath, you should also have an Advent Calendar as part of your holiday traditions.
It’ll help you keep things festive in your home as well as help you keep track of the days until Christmas eve is here. Add a little more to your holidays today and get your family an Advent Calendar.
For other articles like this one detailing the history of our cultural traditions, be sure to take a look at our blog for more.