Advent Calendars for Christmas: Why Are They So Important?

Have you started hearing Christmas music on the radio? Have you been in a store and observed the Christmas decorations already being displayed? I was in a store the first of November and the store employees were taking down the fall decorations and the worker stated, “Isn’t it time to put up the Christmas decorations?” It is now time to start bringing out the holiday decorations and start counting down the days or shopping days left. What is an advent calendar?

As with a number of other traditions family’s take part in, the real or original meaning of the activity is forgotten or not as important. What is advent and where did it come from? Advent is the period of four Sundays and weeks before Christmas (or sometimes from the 1st of December to Christmas Day). Advent means 'Coming' in Latin, which is referred to as the coming of Jesus into the world. Christians use the four Sundays and weeks of Advent to prepare and remember the real meaning of Christmas.

There are several ways that this time period can be counted down but the most common is by the use of a calendar. There are many types of items used to count down these days in December.The most common ones are those that are made of paper or card with 25 little windows on it. A window is opened on every day in December and a Christmas picture is usually displayed underneath. When these types of calendars were first made, scenes from the Christmas Story and other Holiday images were used, such as snowmen and robins, but now many calendars are made in different themes such as castles and may cartoon characters or themes. There are a number of different types available from the more durable, felt paper calendars with velcro pictures that can be displayed for every day till Christmas to the more elaborate actual figures such as birdhouses, wooden cabins, trains, etc. These more elaborate advent items may have up to 25 doors that can hide little surprises in each of these compartments to be opened each day for a little gift before the Big Day. In the market today there are advent calendars to meet any one special interest or hobby such as birds or birdhouses, Santa Claus, or even cartoons for the little ones. No matter what you like, there is sure to be an advent calendar out there to keep the spirit of the Holidays alive in your home.

The four weeks leading up to Christmas Eve are a happy time, especially for those not too caught up in the increasingly hectic and commercial aspects of this time of the year. Why not embark on a new tradition for your family. Try a Christmas Advent Calendar which is sure to become a family heirloom treasured year after year.