Christmas Countdown: Advent Calendars

It’s almost here! And, the countdown will soon begin. It’s the 25 day period before Christmas. One great way to celebrate the season is with an Advent Calendar.

It’s almost here! And, the countdown will soon begin. It’s the 25 day period before Christmas. One great way to celebrate the season is with an Advent Calendar.

Here’s an easy and fun way to use a candle as an advent calendar. Each day the candle is lit and burned down to the next number. You can make one by using craft paint on the candle itself.

The first printed Advent Calendar came about through Gerhard Lang in 1908. Lang got the idea from his mother who, when he was a small boy, made him an advent calendar with 24 little candies stuck on cardboard. He printed Advent Calendars in Germany until WWII when cardboard was then rationed and forbidden to use.

This is the first Advent Calendar printed after WWII. It was printed in 1946 and the first one printed in the United States. It was promoted by President Dwight D. Eisenhower whose children loved the idea.

Today Advent Calendars range from religious to non-religious, and are made from a variety of materials, such as this one made out of felt.

The small box drawers in this unique advent calendar can be filled with little candies, stickers, small toys, or family activities.

The magnetic figures of this advent calendar allow the pieces to be placed anywhere desired. The pieces are stored in pockets in the back. One piece is brought out each day until the nativity scene is complete.

Let the Christmas countdown begin with this bright and cheerful quilted advent calendar. The pockets are in random order so you have to search for the right number. Each pocket can be filled with treats or activities.

This advent calendar is an absolutely fabulous decorative piece! You can choose how to hang it on a tree branch, garland style, or on the Christmas tree itself.

These scrumptious wool pennants are festive with their shades of green, red, gold and white. Each pennant is a little pocket that holds a little card paraphrasing the story of Jesus’ birth with scripture references.

Here’s a gorgeous display featuring a spin-off of traditional Christmas colors, by experimenting with more of a pastel color palette. Red variants come into play here with pink taking first place. Another interesting feature is that the numbers are made with polymer clay.

The word Advent is derived from the Latin word “adventur” meaning “arrival.” Here’s a unique advent calendar using pottery in a shadow box-style lazy Susan shelf, which is unique in itself with the Christmas Tree finial on top.

Using beautiful flocked and metallic papers, feathers, rhinestones, and elegant embellishments, this black, white, and silver advent calendar creates an unusual look.

If you have a lot of kiddos in your family then this might be a fun solution. An advent calendar right on the Christmas Stocking itself. Each number has a little pocket.

Here’s a simple idea using colorful fabric scraps. These would be easy to whip up if you’re suddenly inspired to make an advent calendar at the last minute.

Here’s yet another very quick advent calendar project using magnetic tins.

All of these Advent Calendars are certainly inspiring. Remember, you can start your Countdown to Christmas with any amount of days. Perhaps 12 days of Christmas is your thing? So, whether you make one or buy, one have fun with it this season.