Advent calendars are a popular tradition during the Christmas season. Many people enjoy opening up a little door each day leading up to Christmas, but have you ever wondered why we have advent calendars in the first place?
There are a few different theories about the origins of advent calendars.
One theory suggests that the first advent calendar was created in the 19th century by a German protestant minister named Johann Heinrich Wichern. He is said to have used a wooden box with small drawers, and placed a treat or toy in each drawer to represent each day of Advent. Another theory suggests that the first advent calendar was actually created by Marten Toonder, a Dutch writer and illustrator, in his 1941 comic strip “Tom Puss”.
In the strip, Tom Puss opens one door of an Advent calendar each day leading up to Christmas.
It’s also thought that early Advent calendars were made by families as homemade gifts for their children. Whatever the true origins of Advent calendars may be, they are now a beloved tradition enjoyed by many people around the world every year.
Advent calendars are a special way to countdown to Christmas. Each day leading up to December 25, you open a new door on your advent calendar and find a small gift or treat. Advent calendars can be store-bought or homemade, and often feature fun holiday themes.
So why do we have advent calendars at Christmas? There are a few theories…
One theory is that the first advent calendar was created in the 19th century by a German woman named Johanna Spyri.
She wrote a book called “Heidi” which featured an Advent calendar-like story where Heidi received gifts from her grandfather each day in December leading up to Christmas. It’s possible that Spyri’s book inspired the creation of real-life Advent calendars.
Another theory is that Advent calendars originated with Protestant Christians in Europe who wanted to find a way to celebrate Advent, the four weeks leading up to Christmas.
They started marking each day of Advent on their calendars with crosses, and eventually began adding little gifts or treats next to the crosses. This tradition eventually spread to Catholic Christians as well.
Whatever their origins, advent calendars are now enjoyed by people of all ages and religions around the world.
They’re a fun way to get into the holiday spirit and countdown the days until Christmas!
Where Did the Idea of Advent Calendars Come From?
The idea of Advent calendars is a relatively recent one, dating back to the 19th century. The first known Advent calendar was created in 1851 by German Protestant minister Johann Heinrich Wichern. He designed a wooden box with 24 small drawers, each representing one day in December leading up to Christmas Eve.
Wichern would fill each drawer with a treat like candy or a toy, and his students would take turns opening a drawer each day.
The tradition of Advent calendars caught on in other Protestant countries like Sweden and Denmark in the early 20th century. In these countries, children would often make their own Advent calendars out of paper or cardboard, decorating them with images of Santa Claus, reindeer, and other Christmas symbols.
It wasn’t until the 1950s that commercial Advent calendars became widely available. The most popular ones were made by German chocolate company Richard Bergner & Co., which featured small windows that could be opened to reveal a piece of chocolate for each day of December leading up to Christmas Eve. Today, there are all sorts of Advent calendars available for purchase, from simple paper ones to elaborate ones filled with tiny toys or beauty products.
No matter what form they take, Advent calendars are sure to get you excited for the holiday season!
Why Do Advent Calendars Start on December 1?
Advent calendars are a special type of calendar used to count down the days until Christmas. They typically start on December 1, the first day of Advent.
The word “advent” comes from the Latin word meaning “coming.”
Advent is a time of waiting and preparation for the coming of Christ. It is a time to reflect on God’s promises and our need for a Savior.
The tradition of using an Advent calendar dates back to the 19th century.
German Lutherans were the first to use them as a way to help children learn about and prepare for Jesus’ birth. Today, Advent calendars are popular all over the world.
Many families have their own traditions around advent calendars.
Some open one door each day leading up to Christmas Eve. Others wait until all 24 doors have been opened before celebrating Christmas Day. Regardless of how you use your advent calendar, it is sure to add some extra excitement and anticipation during this special time of year!
The Reason I’m Not Allowed Advent Calendars
Are Advent Calendars Only for Christmas
No, advent calendars are not only for Christmas! You can find them for all sorts of different holidays and occasions. For example, there are ones for Halloween, Easter, and even St. Patrick’s Day.
There are also specific ones made for adults, with things like wine or beer instead of candy. So whatever you’re celebrating, there’s probably an advent calendar out there for you!
Conclusion
Advent calendars are a popular Christmas tradition, but have you ever wondered why we have them? It turns out that the history of advent calendars is actually quite interesting!
The first recorded advent calendar was created in the early 1800s by a German Protestant named Johann Hinrich Wichern.
He used a wooden wheel with 24 small drawers, each containing a different Bible verse or story. As each day passed, children would open one of the drawers and learn about the Christmas story.
Today, advent calendars come in all shapes and sizes, but they all serve the same purpose: to countdown the days until Christmas.
For many people, opening up an advent calendar is one of the most exciting parts of the holiday season!
