The Advent Calendar has now become a tradition in Italian families as well, and one of the most beloved items for children during the Christmas season. Waking up each day to discover a new little window hiding a sweet treat, a toy, or even just a simple note is a truly unique experience for both kids and parents.
History of the Advent Calendar
According to Wikipedia, starting in 1920, traditional cardboard Advent calendars with small opening windows containing chocolate treats depicting Christmas-themed designs became popular in Germany.
These calendars are also widely used in countries with Russian traditions, where they are often given to elderly family members as a way to mark the days leading up to Christmas Eve.
Since the date of the First Sunday of Advent varies and can fall anywhere between November 27th and December 3rd inclusive, Advent calendars usually begin on December 1st—though some versions include days prior to that date as well.
As mentioned, the Advent calendar was first introduced by German Lutherans in the 19th and 20th centuries, but it has since become ubiquitous among followers of many Christian denominations. Many Advent calendars take the form of a large rectangular cardboard box with “windows,” typically 24 in number—one for each day of December leading up to Christmas Eve. Often, these windows feature a Bible verse and a prayer printed on them, which Christian families incorporate into their daily devotions during Advent. The windows open to reveal an image, a poem, a segment of a story (such as the Nativity of Jesus), or a small gift like a toy or a piece of chocolate.
Advent calendars come in a wide variety of themes—from sports to technology—and frequently include verses from Scripture.
Advent Calendar Ideas
Recently, quality toy manufacturers such as Lego and Playmobil have introduced their own versions of the traditional Advent calendar.
Lego Advent Calendar
The famous brick company from Billund offers beautiful Advent calendars for almost every product line, including the Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar, featuring unique pieces like BB-8 dressed as Santa Claus.
Playmobil Advent Calendar
Following German tradition, Playmobil naturally couldn’t miss out on this Christmas classic. Playmobil’s catalog includes several Advent calendar options—for example, the Playmobil Pirate Treasure Advent Calendar or the Christmas on the Farm Advent Calendar are absolutely stunning.
Lego or Playmobil? With so many themes to choose from, pick the perfect Advent calendar to share the joy of waiting for Christmas with your children.
