Advent Calendar
Countdown to Christmas
Advent is a very exciting time for those who choose to celebrate it, and it can be a great time for the family to bond and discuss this very pivotal time in the religious aspect of the holiday. The Advent calendar marks the days in the month leading up to Christmas Day. Another common way of marking Advent is to light an Advent candle on each of the four Sundays before Christmas. A traditional Advent wreath holds these four candles in the wreath itself, and a fifth candle in the center to be lit on Christmas Eve.
Advent Calendar Origins
The idea of the Advent calendar actually came from the Germans, specifically the Lutherans, who wanted to commemorate the days of Advent. The first idea of the calendar manifested in the form of a chalk line. They would actually draw chalk lines on a door each day, beginning on the first of December.
In 1851, the first known Advent calendar was displayed in the town of Hamburg, Germany. The first mainstream calendar of its kind was developed about 50 years later by Gerhard Lang, who was co-owner of the printing agency Reichhold & Lang, out of Munich, Germany. In his idea, he introduced a home depicted with 24 doors on the calendar, with Bible verses behind each door, educating the masses of the time of Advent.
Advent Calendars Today
Modern Advent calendars are, of course, dramatically different from their predecessors. In the older days, they did not contain such tasty and exciting treats as they do today. However, they still have the undertones that are conducive to learning about the period of Advent. They are important in the sense that they teach children and adults alike about the time period, practices and values about this important time in the Christian calendar. These calendars are sure to provide days of entertaining education with rewards, and we know how children love incentives when learning! Making an Advent calendar can be a fun Christmas craft for your kids as well. These calendars also are very decorative, and hanging or displaying one in a particularly festive area can add just that extra flair to the holiday décor of your home.
