Her we are, on the cusp of mid-November and about to be catapulted into the Advent / Christmas Season. Wasn’t is just yesterday when we were all neck deep in pumpkins, ghouls and witches? There usually is a relaxing buffer zone before the whole Christmas rigamarole but in the past years the two seem to overlap in the most bizarre manner. This year the highly commercialised concept of the Advent Calendars caught my attention and I feel compelled to voice my violent objection to it.
For those of you on social media, you have surely been bombarded by all sorts of ads regarding Advent calendars being promoted by make-up or jewellery brands enticing one and all to indulge. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw the ads and have trouble reconciling these with the original purpose of the Advent calendar to begin with.
The Adventskalendar originated in Germany from the Lutherans in the 19th century. They were images of the nativity scene with 24 little doors to open as a countdown to Christmas Eve. It goes hand-in-hand with the Advent wreath that counts down the Sundays before Christmas, also Lutheran in origin that was later adopted by other Christian denominations. In short, the Advent calendar is firmly rooted in Christianity and the spiritual aspect of Christmas that conveys anticipation and hope. Over the years the calendars evolved into three-dimensional creations with actually doors that children can open and find a little surprise inside. The contents were all meant to be symbolic more than anything, before Cadbury came out with the first chocolate Advent calendars in 1971.
There are a million and one versions of the Advent calendars, and families inclined to arts and crafts have come up with their own distinct version, making it a point to be an inclusive activity for the whole family. My first encounter with an advent calendar was in the 1970s in Mexico with friends of my parents who invited us on the first of December to open the first door. Their version was a collection of small handcrafted wooden houses and behind each door was a bible passage. We sat together and each shared what it meant to us, sang a Christmas carol and then had Christmas cookies. My mother kept up the tradition of the Advent calendar in our home with a large felt Christmas tree with 24 pockets that she stuffed with bible passages and little love notes.
Once I got immersed in the German version of the Adventskalendar and reverted back to the traditional versions of the nativity scenes, coupled with the very active and vivid Advent season in Germany, I became a stickler for tradition and wanted to pass this on to my daughter. We stuck to the paper version as long as possible before switching over to the chocolate versions, but for many years I stuffed the Advent calendar with funny Christmas poems interspersed with token gifts, expect December 6, which had to be chocolate to honour Nikolaus Day.
Advent calendars in 2024 have evolved so far beyond the original purpose and significance that it breaks my heart. I can accept the chocolate calendars though I much prefer the homemade and more personal versions of little notes, but what I find utterly revolting are the huge commercial versions containing items that have little or nothing to do with the spirit of Christmas.
Perhaps I am getting old and nostalgic about many things, but it is just wrong to pervert something deeply rooted in faith with selfish commercialism. If Advent calendars are part of your family traditions and you still take the time to “make” them or stuff them with the sole purpose of gathering the family for a meaningful and reflective moment, then I applaud you.
FrogDiva Thoughts 