We discuss the history and joys of the Advent calendar and encourage you to make your own! For many, the anticipation is what makes Christmas magical. It’s exciting to be out and about in the markets, with mulled wine in your hand, weeks before Christmas. Advent calendars play a significant role in the Christmas build-up. When were they first created? What are the different types? You can read the entire history of the countdown until Christmas and get inspired to create your own.
As a child, it was thrilling to receive Advent Calendars. It’s not all about the confectionery. There’s something so wonderful about looking for the date and opening a little number door.
Advent calendars come in many forms and styles these days. We’re happy to include everything from beauty and make-up, to gin-a day designs. There’s a calendar to suit every hobby and interest. There’s no better time to be creative and give papercraft a try.
History lessons
This tradition dates back to mid-19th-century Germany, where German Protestants used chalk and candles to mark their doors to count down the days to Christmas. It was usually from the 1st through the 24th. This was a deviation from the original meaning Advent, which is the period of four weeks that begins on the Sunday closest to the feast day Saint Andrew the Apostle (31st November), which has been observed since the fourth century.
Gerhard Lang, a German parishioner, is known as the inventor of the printed Advent calendar. He was a small boy when his mother gave him 24 cookies to decorate a box. Each day during Advent, he could eat one of the cookies. This is just amazing! In 1908, he produced the first commercial and printed calendar. The idea wasn’t novel. A children’s book written by Elise Averdieck in 1851 says sweetly: “When little Elisabeth goes down to sleep, her mother tells her a bit about Christmas and they learn many Christmas songs. Each evening, a new wallpaper picture is added. The children know that Christmas is here when all 24 wallpaper pictures have been hung.
Fast forward to 1945 and Franz Eher Verlag, a Nazi-controlled publishing house, printed Advent calendars. It changed the name to Pre-Christmas calendar and replaced the religious content with ‘new symbolism and ideology. Dwight D. Eisenhower was a key factor in the return of the calendar to its former glory following the war. He was photographed opening it with his grandchildren during his presidency. The photo appeared in many national newspapers. It was unsurprising that it touched the hearts of the entire world.
You can think outside the box
Make your own Advent calendar to keep the tradition alive. You can make it for your children, your partner, or a friend. You don’t have to create one exactly like the traditional Advent calendar that we all love. It’s best to be creative and find what works for your needs.
Envelopes make it easy to get start. You can decorate your envelopes or buy pre-made ones. A sweetie, a joke, or a Christmas song would be a good idea. For a unique look in your home, you can string them with bakers twine and pins or nestle them in a seasonal basket with festive foliage. You can also find beautiful Advent calendar ideas. You’ll find a gift box that looks like a Christmas tree and a cute mitten set that looks adorable above a fireplace.
A mismatched design is quite charming. After all, an Advent calendar doesn’t have to be the same. You can make pouches and boxes with odd items from your house, such as matchboxes and take-out containers. An excellent choice is to build a collection of houses. This creates a wonderful wintry village that tells a story.
The number is the game
It is important to number your Advent calendar correctly. You have many options. As papercrafters, the digits should be easy to read and clear. If you are a master of the brush pen, you can stamp them in bold colors or die-cut them from striking patterns paper. Are you computer-literate? You don’t have to be computer-literate in order to play with fonts or graphics digitally. You can always punch out or die-cut the numbers after the designs have been printed to maintain a professional look.
Whatever your choice of aesthetic, you can’t deny the joy that an Advent calendar brings to your loved ones. So what are you waiting? Let’s get started!
