Advent calendars are a beloved Christmas tradition enjoyed by both children and adults. As you eagerly await Christmas day, opening each little door reveals a special picture, chocolate, or surprise gift. But have you ever wondered – are the doors supposed to be opened in order?
As a professional custom advent calendar printing manufacturer, I’ve researched this festive question. Keep reading to find the answer, along with the fascinating history behind advent calendars and how their doors are sequentially numbered as part of the Christmas countdown.
A Brief History of Advent Calendars
To understand if advent calendar doors are meant to be opened in order, it helps to know the history behind this holiday custom.
The concept began in the 19th century in Germany with families marking chalk tallies or lighting candles to count down the days until Christmas. Soon publishers created some of the first printed advent calendars, though these were quite simple.
It wasn’t until the early 1900s that German printer Gerhard Lang had the idea to design decorative cardboard advent calendars with little flaps or doors. Behind each numbered door was a Christmas image that children would reveal day-by-day as a festive surprise.
In the 1920s, Lang enhanced his advent calendar design by including pieces of chocolate behind each tiny door. And a Christmas tradition was born!
Lang’s numbering system showed that even the earliest advent calendars were meant to sequentially count down the days from 1 to 24 in December, ending on Christmas eve.
The Structure of Modern Advent Calendars
Today’s advent calendars carry on the custom of numbered doors to open in order. Their structure provides part of the excitement and suspense as Christmas draws near.
While styles and themes vary widely, nearly all modern advent calendars contain 24 (or sometimes 25) doors, pockets, or openings. Each is printed with the numbers 1 through 24 in sequence down the calendar grid.
Behind each numbered door is a festive surprise that’s part of the Christmas countdown ritual. For kids, this builds eager anticipation to open the next door and reveal the treat inside.
Whether made of sturdy cardboard, wood, fabric, or another material, advent calendars are designed so the numbered doors can only be opened one-by-one, in order. This heightens the daily sense of intrigue leading up to the main event on the 24th/25th.
Benefits of Following the Advent Calendar Sequence
Beyond the enjoyment of uncovering a new Christmas picture or chocolate, there are other advantages to opening your advent calendar doors sequentially:
- Provides structure: The numerical order gives the tradition an easy-to-follow structure for kids & families.
- Builds excitement & intrigue: Only opening doors in sequence heightens anticipation of what’s behind the next number in line.
- Avoids spoilers/disappointment: Opening later doors first can reveal surprises meant for Christmas eve and day itself. This can ruin the intended suspense.
- Reinforces organization: Following the logical 1 to 24 sequence helps teach young children valuable skills.
While advent calendars can technically be opened randomly, doing so interrupts their purpose. The numbered doors are designed as part of holiday timekeeping. Opening doors sequentially reinforces organization and heightens anticipation of Christmas day itself.
When Should You Start and End?
While the exact season of Advent shifts slightly each year, nearly all advent calendars agree on the timeline:
- Start on December 1st
- End on December 24th (Christmas eve)
Beginning December 1st provides consistency for reusing and repurchasing the same advent calendar annually. It also delivers 24 days to match the numbered doors.
You may also find advent calendars with 25 doors – in these cases simply continue to the 25th and Christmas day. But regardless of design, the direction is to start sequentially at door #1 on December 1st.
Some people even gift advent calendars to others once December starts. This allows the recipient to open door #1 and joyfully count down each day with the rest of the month.
DIY Advent Calendars: Order Matters!
Beyond store-bought advent calendars, many crafty families create their own DIY versions using paper bags, fabric, wooden boxes, or other innovative containers.
Regardless of the material, numbering your DIY advent calendar doors in sequence helps capture that special holiday magic. Be sure to mark them 1 through 24/25 so Christmas anticipation builds properly from the start!
If designing one from scratch seems daunting, even using simple paper bags or envelopes numbered 1 to 24 works wonderfully. The Main focus is keeping doors order so each one advances the countdown towarđ the 25th.
The Joy of Opening Advent Calendar Doors in Order
While kids may want to open every door at once, preservation of this cherished ritual relies on patience and adherence to order. What seems mundane on its own takes on splendor when repeated daily.
Ultimately, opening your advent calendar flaps consecutively starting December 1st enhances everything special about the countdown.
Whether made of sturdy cardboard, delicate felt, wood, or by your own hand, advent calendars remind us the arrival Christmas day approaches! Their numbered doors reveal the story sequentially as we celebrate the season and welcome possibility & cheer into our homes.