Advent calendars were not a thing in my Catholic 70s and 80s childhood. We dutifully made Advent wreaths on little pieces of styfoam in our CCD class. We were supposed to light the candles each Sunday, but even parents of Gen X kids realized it was a bad idea to put a flame near styrofoam however briefly.
But Advent was about anticipating Christmas. My impression was that it was supposed to be four week of anticipation, Christmas Eve/Day, and then 12 days of feasting until Three Kings Day, Epiphany or whatever you call it. My father talked often about his family adults putting together all of Christmas -tree, decorations, presents – on Xmas eve. The kids went to bed early. And all the decor stayed up for weeks.
So the shift from measuring the celebration of the season from Christmas Eve forward is probably ted to mid century mass marketing of Christmas as a consumer holiday.
Advent calendars feature little doors or slots behind which is either a decoration tied to Christianity or a treat or token. It is a countdown.
Important to note that Advent does not always have the same number of days. From Wikipedia:
In the Anglican, Lutheran, Moravian, Presbyterian, and Methodist calendars, Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas (the Sunday that falls on or closest to 30 November, always between 27 November and 3 December; it is the Sunday between the last Thursday of November and the first Thursday of December), and ends by Christmas Eve on 24 December.[9][10] In the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church, Advent begins with the First Vespers of the First Sunday of Advent and ends with the Deus, in adiutorium of the First Vespers of Christmas.[11] The first day of Advent also begins a new liturgical year.
In the Ambrosian Rite and the Mozarabic Rite of the Catholic Church, Advent begins on the sixth Sunday before Christmas (the Sunday that falls on or closest to 16 November, always between 13 November and 19 November; it is the Sunday before the third Tuesday of November).
That’s all well and good, but why do Christians play fast and loose with dates and time frames? When is Easter next year? Who knows?
But it does bring up a good Advent calendar debate – 24 v 12 days. Neither is right, but both are profitable. 24 is basically Dec 1 through Christmas Eve. Not Advent. 12 is a discounted way to acknowledge the 12 Days of Christmas. Also, not Advent.
Still, when did a little thing like accuracy get in the way of commerce?
HOWEVER, in the spirit of sparkle season, I purchased my first ever Advent calendar from Keurig – 24 Cups of Cheer aka kcups. I’m making reels each day. I hope.
Over the years, I’ve devoted many posts to my holiday past (see below) so this is a great chance to look forward. My life is in shambles, but I am very fortunate to have a friend who gifted me with a single serving coffee maker.
Day One
Day Two
The Origins of the Christmas Tree and Pittsburgh’s Flaming Tree Festival of the Magi
December 22, 2021 by Sue
I Put Up a Christmas Tree For My Feral Cat Colony
December 16, 2021 by Sue
My Family History Christmas Edition: Grandma’s Date Nut Pudding Recipe
December 23, 2017 by Sue
Our Family Christmas House Putz
December 25, 2013 by Sue
Giant Eagle’s War on Christmas?
November 18, 2007 by Sue
The Legacy of Fire Truck Santa: West Mifflin
December 18, 2023 by Sue
Dear Santa Letters from My Great-Grandmother Circa 1896
November 29, 2017 by Sue
40 Days This Blog Illumined the Advent of the Holiday Season
December 21, 2023 by Sue
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