Advent Calendar Facts
The traditional Advent Calendar consists of two pieces of card stock on top of each other. Twenty-four doors are cut out in the top layer, with a number ranging from one to twenty-four on each. Beginning on the first day of December, one door is opened each day, counting down the days remaining until Christmas Eve, from one to twenty-four where the 24th door often holds an extra surprise like an extra large piece of chocolate.
Some modern calendars are labelled as "countdown calendars" and are designed to start at number 24 and count down to number 1 so the number of days until Christmas can be easily determined. Each compartment displays an image, which can be either a feature of the Nativity story and the birth of Jesus or a piece of paraphernalia to do with Christmas (e.g., bells or holly).
Advent calendars can also consist of cloth sheets with small pockets to be filled with candy or other small gift items. Many calendars have been adapted by merchandisers and manufacturers to include a piece of chocolate or other confectionery behind each compartment. These are often aimed at children who are counting down to Christmas and the arrival of Santa Claus
The number of doors can also increase to 25 or 26 to cover Christmas Day and Boxing Day, or further to 31 or 32 to include New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. This latter act was particularly evident over December 1999, counting down to January 1, 2000.
The Advent calendar is normally shaped like a large greeting card, but it can be found in other shapes, such as a three-dimensional model of a house or church. There are alternative forms of Advent calendar, such as those made from felt or other material, or a chain of candles that can be lit day by day. The German city of Dresden has a giant calendar built into a fairytale castle on its Christmas market, the Striezelmarkt.
An alternative Advent calendar is that a box is given with a small gift, of nominal value, with one for the 24 days. The origins of this are not specifically known but certainly it is practiced in Denmark and commonly a way to send gifts to family abroad.
Another modern approach to the Advent calendar is an online version.[citation needed] Though some abandon the element of surprise, at least one, online Advent calendar, achieves this by making it so that, while the images representing all the days are visible from the start, each day's link cannot be by accessed until that calendar day.
Welcome to Advent Calendars, the website which brings together the the largest selection
of advent calendars.
Christmas is most definitely a magical time for children and what better way to watch
the excitement grow than through the daily ritual of opening a calendar as we count
down the days to Santa’s big visit.
As advent calendars have become increasingly popular, so too has the choice and variety
of calendars available. With many years experience of selling different types of
advent calendars, we have tried to pull together in one place some of the many different
varieties available to save you the job of searching through countless different
websites.
We have found a whole range of Christmas calendars form a number of different suppliers
including: hanging fabric calendars, reusable wooden ones, scrummy chocolate laden
calendars and a range of traditional and novelty ones. For those who would like to
combine the excitement of advent with the true meaning of Christmas, we also have
a fabulous range of Nativity Advent Calendars.
As you browse through the site, also look out for some interesting advent calendar
facts such as the novel Mercedes Benz advent calendar !
This adorable glazed porcelain advent calendar is made in the shape of a fir tree.
Each golden day of advent has a brass cup hook on which to hang one of the 24 delicate
and detailed hand painted ornaments. These include a snowman; a filled stocking;
teddy bears; a bell and tiny buildings.
Villroy & Bosch From John Lewis
: £280
(Click the link on the right to visit the John Lewis site)
