History of the Advent Calendar
The origin of the Advent Calendar started in Germany in the 1850's. There were different methods of how you counted down the days until Christmas, one of them was drawing a chalk line to mark off the days. Other styles that were used were lighting a candle every night for 24 nights, also putting up small religous pictures that were marked for the 24 days until Christmas.
It is thought that the first printed Advent Calendar was produced by Gerhard Lang in Germany, he had been given Advent Calendars by his mother with little candies stuck on cardboard. Each day Gerhard would take one off until Christmas Day. Gerhard Lang first printed Advent Calendars, consisted of coloured pictures that were attached to a piece of cardboard which could then be opened every day until Christmas.
Later on at the start of the 20th Century, Advent Calendars had little doors to be opened, behind the doors there were bible verses, a Christmas picture or small sweets. The Lang Advent Calendars were produced until the Second World War when supply shortages made them stop production, until then over 30 designs had been produced by Lang. Cardboard was rationed during the war and it was forbidden to produce Calendars with pictures on them. After the war in 1946 the printed Advent Calendars started being produced again, this time by Richard Selmer.
Types of Advent Calendar
Advent Calendar are to be found everywhere Christmas is celebrated and they are made with many different themes. You can still find the traditional Advent Calenders but more commonly they are Character calenders with chocolate behind each door.
There are other types of Advent Calendar which may contain only pictures, or may provide religious contents. Permanent calendars are also available, some consisting of decorative wooden structures which contain little drawers, one for each day. Others come in the shape of trees or are made to surround a Christmas tree, allowing for the star to be placed on top after the 24th door is opened.
Traditionally Advent Calendars were based on 24 days but in the United States of America you are more likely to find Advent Calendars with 25 days on with Christmas Day being the last door to open. In the United Kingdom you can find the less traditional Advent Calendars with 31 doors which include New Years Eve.
