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The dates of Advent -

The exact origins of Advent celebrations are hazy, but historians believe the four-week period of Advent has been marked since the 4th century. Derived from the Latin word for "coming," it was originally a time in which converts to Christianity could prepare for baptism.

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German origins -

For generations, the countdown to Christmas has been marked by the opening of doors on an Advent calendar. Like many other Christmas traditions, the calendar has its roots in Germany. 

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Martin Luther -

Until the 1700s, German children received their holiday presents on Saint Nicholas' Day, which falls on December 6. German Protestant reformist Martin Luther opposed the idolization of saints and changed the date to coincide with Christmas.

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Christmas traditions -

Martin Luther is also credited with starting the tradition of Christmas trees. It is said that he added lit candles to a tree after walking home on a winter's night and being struck by stars twinkling among the pines.

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Chalk marks -

The idea of marking the days leading up to Christmas began in Germany in the late 1800s, when Lutheran Protestants began making chalk marks on doors from the first day of December until the 24th.

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A sweet story -

Germany's national love affair with sweet treats and with marking special occasions in style were key elements in the story of the Advent calendar as we know it today. It all began with candy...

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German Christmas countdown -

The story holds that, in the late 19th century, the mother of a German boy named Gerhard Lang stuck 24 candies to a piece of cardboard, for her son to enjoy each day over Advent. The idea stuck with Lang and, when he grew up to own a printing office, he produced what is thought to be the first-ever printed Advent calendar in 1908.

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Calendar doors -

Lang's first calendar featured Christmas-themed pictures attached to a piece of cardboard. He later modified the idea to include little doors for each date, which became a success with German shoppers, and the idea began catching on among other manufacturers.

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The war years -

With the onset of World War II, cardboard was rationed and Lang's calendar business was forced to close. During the war years, it was reportedly forbidden to produce calendars with pictures. Instead, the Nazis produced a pamphlet filled with images of swastikas and exploding tanks.

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Eisenhower brings Advent calendars to America -

Post-war, Advent calendar production took up again, featuring much happier scenes. In 1946, a German man named Richard Sellmer found commercial success with his snowy "The Little Town" calendar. It even caught the eye of American president Dwight D. Eisenhower.

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A presidential calendar campaign -

Sellmer teamed up with President Eisenhower to produce a charity calendar, and when Newsweek ran images of the president's three grandchildren opening the doors, Americans were instantly won over.

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A new American tradition -

Patricia Nixon, wife of Eisenhower's vice president Richard Nixon, was also photographed opening the calendar with her children. The idea took hold, and a new American festive tradition was born. Sellmer calendars remain big sellers to this day, and it's even possible to buy reprints of the original "Little Town" scene.

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Chocolate calendars -

To the joy of sweet-toothed children everywhere, the first chocolate Advent calendars began to appear in 1958. The idea entered the big leagues in 1971, when beloved British chocolate manufacturer Cadbury launched its own version. By the mid-90s, many children had come to expect calendars as standard.

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The evolution of Advent calendars -

Having become established as a Christmas tradition across the Western world, Advent calendars began to take on a life of their own.

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Tourist attractions -

Since the 1980s, the German town of Gengenbach has turned its Baroque town hall into a giant Advent calendar each winter. The windows are opened and lit up one by one during the Christmas countdown, until all 24 are open to form a unique Christmas attraction.

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Building-sized calendars -

The German love of Advent calendars is such that several towns and cities rig up entire buildings in their image. The German town of Uslar also uses the windows of its town hall (pictured) as a giant calendar in December.

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Italian flair -

The appeal of the giant Advent calendar is an international one. Since the early 2010s, the city of Turin in Italy has played host to a grand Advent calendar as part of its ornate Christmas decorations.

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Collector's calendars -

LEGO launched its own advent calendars in 1998, with figures or accessories behind each door. Themed versions such as LEGO Star Wars calendars have added to the festive anticipation for collectors.

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World's largest LEGO calendar -

Creativity and a competitive streak are hallmarks of Advent calendar production. In 2012, the world's largest LEGO Advent calendar was erected in London's chic Covent Garden. Made with over 600,000 LEGO bricks, the construction stood at five meters (16.4 ft) high.

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The beauty of Christmas -

Since the early 2010s, savvy retailers have caught on to the fact that adults like Advent calendars, too. Alongside tea, beer, and even cheese-filled calendars, beauty Advent calendars have been a huge hit.

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New traditions -

Since 2014, queueing round the block for the Liberty London beauty Advent calendar has become a tradition for British shopaholics. The high-end department store's big-bucks calendars always sell out fast.

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Big business beauty calendars -

It's not just the high-end brands that shift beauty calendars in big numbers. Retailers target everybody from teens to their grandparents with their festive offerings.

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Treats for pets -

The booming trend in Advent calendars for adults extends to their furry friends. The 2010s saw a huge increase in the number of calendars aimed at cats and dogs, with canines being particularly well catered for.

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Boozy treats -

The late 2010s saw a surge in interest in wine, beer, and spirits calendars. It's perhaps unsurprising that the pandemic year of 2020 saw sales of boozy calendars skyrocket—a trend that looks set to continue as drinkers celebrate new freedoms.

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Hand-filled calendars -

While sales of beauty and booze calendars have started to rival those of traditional chocolate calendars in recent years, hand-filled, personalized calendars have been having a moment over the last few years.

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Instagram appeal -

With an eye on Instagram appeal as well as sustainability, savvy Christmas shoppers are increasingly adding their own treats to reusable or recyclable packages.

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Calendars as decoration -

This new spin on the Advent tradition is as much decoration as it is Christmas countdown, and appeals as much to adults as it does to kids.

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Edible Advent calendars -

Another trend fueled by Instagram appeal, edible gingerbread advent calendars have been an increasingly strong social media presence since 2020.

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Christmas customs -

Whichever form the Advent calendar takes, its popularity shows no sign of abating. Like the much-loved Christmas tree, it has become an integral part of the holiday countdown.

Sources: (Parenta) (Mental Floss)

See also: Classic toys and their origins

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