Holiday Series 2019 - «Advent Calendar»
For me, growing up in the 70’s and 80’s in a non-religious family Christmas and the month leading to it, namely Advent, was never about Christianity but about FAMILY. Getting together for lunch and then sipping hot cocoa, playing board games, card games, admiring, organizing, adding to our post stamp collection, watching holiday themed movies on television, even some dancing and singing was the main event of Sunday afternoons in December.
As a parent myself and wanting to “continue” the tradition of December gatherings, Advent became my most favorite time of the year. For me, it’s the time where my home is decorated top to bottom, it always smells of cinnamon, citrus fruits and “Forralt bor“ (aka. Glühwein), Christmas tunes play on the loop and I’m forever gearing up for the next Sunday get-together. THIS is Advent for me.
But … Advent is very much rooted in Christianity, so here’s a little history lesson that will also explain the reason behind the “physical marking” of the days before Christmas, the Advent calendar.
Originally, Advent is the four-week period beginning on the Sunday nearest the feast day of St. Andrew the Apostle (November 30). Derived from “adventus,” the Latin word for “arrival,” Advent was the period of time (for converts to Christianity) to prepare for baptism, but it's now more commonly associated with the anticipation of the anniversary of Christ’s birth on December 25.
First printed Advent calendar
Advent calendars begin on December 1 and mark the 24 days before Christmas. The history of advent calendars began sometime in the 1800s, German Lutherans began to mark out the days leading up to Christmas by drawing a chalk line on doors, every day.
This tradition morphed over time and the earliest advent calendars as we know them today first appeared at the beginning of the 20th Century in Germany.
Sometime in the early twentieth century the first printed calendars appeared, followed by Gerhard Lang’s innovation of adding small doors in the 1920s; he is thus often seen as the creator of the modern calendar.
Calendars filled with chocolate began to appear from the late 1950s around the time that they also began to spread around the world.
Nowadays, Advent Calendars are heavily used as product promotions, brand marketing etc. They may be filled with travel sized products from the beauty industry, beverages (gin, whiskey, coffee, tea), different gourmet spices (chili, curry etc.), candles, seeds, toys, stationary etc. Of course, the “traditional” advent calendar is filled with chocolate but there are also more spiritual or at least non-commercial advent calendars out there, like those that are filled with quotes (bible or famous people’s sayings), reason-oriented, like: “Why I love you”, activities that are related to Christmas, music playlists, movie suggestions, even books. Most calendars are manufactured from printed paper or cardboard for heavier items inside.
Today, they are a global phenomenon, even seeing a boost in popularity in recent years but at their heart they retain the essence of counting down the days to Christmas.
Handmade calendars
are special because of the time and effort that goes into crafting them. Even if you don’t use designer files for cutting machines, the DIY Advent Calendars from paper, fabric or wood may become family heirlooms and will be appreciated year after year.
This was my first, kid-oriented Advent Calendar from felt. My girls participated in its making with huge smiles on their faces and still remember the laughter we shared. (I’m keeping it stored safely for my grandchildren!).
I started paper crafting at the end of 2012 and one of the first svg files I bought (for my Silhouette Cameo cutting machine) was the Classic Christmas Advent Calendar SVG Kit from SvgCuts. These are my takes on the iconic square/rectangle shape of an Advent calendar. (You’ll have to excuse the poor quality of the photos, these pics were taken when photography was not real high on my list of priorities.)
Classic Advent Calendar made in 2013
Classic Advent Calendar made in 2016
Of course SvgCuts’ designer, Mary, didn’t just leave it there - she crafted two more kits with different shapes for all “tastes”. The Advent Calendar Trees Kit and the Santa’s Village Advent Calendar Kit are ever so popular among paper-crafters.
If you’re up to trying your hand at paper-crafting yourself, take a look at the SvgCuts website for a ton of - not only - Christmas related projects and inspiration. These are not affiliate links - I praise the brilliance, talent and hard work behind these awesome kits whenever I can.
All in all, Advent calendars are good fun for kids and adults, too. Opening those little doors together with your family, to find the mystery gift hiding behind is a good reminder to stop and appreciate even the little things, let alone the gift of being together.
Because sharing a little joy multiplies the happiness of all.
Thank you for coming along for the first blog post of this year’s Holiday series. During the months of November and December, every Monday there will be a holiday related entry for your enjoyment.
Below, you can read last year’s holiday series. See you soon,
Your very own fairy,
Tünde - Nefeli
