It’s December 1st and you just bought an advent calendar to count down the days until Christmas. But when you open it up, you’re suddenly struck with a question:
Should I start with day 1 and count up to day 24? Or do I count down from 24 to 1?
I faced this exact same dilemma a few years ago. And I realized that no one seems to agree on the “right” way to use an advent calendar!
So I decided to do some digging and get to the bottom of this very important issue once and for all.
In this complete guide, as a professional custom advent calendar printing manufacturer, I will help you to learn:
- What is an advent calendar (for those completely new to the concept)
- The history of advent calendars
- Whether to count up or down
- Fun ideas and tips for making your own advent calendar
Let’s kick things off by answering the most basic question…
What Is An Advent Calendar?
An advent calendar is used to count down the days leading up to Christmas, which is on December 25th.
The name comes from the Latin word “adventus“, meaning arrival. Of course, the holiday season is all about awaiting the arrival of Christmas day.
Traditionally, an advent calendar will have 24 days listed out. This is because most calendars begin on December 1st, with day 24 landing on Christmas Eve (December 24th).
Behind each numbered day is a little drawer, door or flap. And behind each one is a fun surprise like:
- A piece of chocolate or candy
- A small toy or trinket
- A Bible passage or Christmas image
The main idea is that opening the door gives you a little treat to enjoy as you count down the days until the big holiday.
Now that you know what an advent calendar is used for, let’s look at where this holiday tradition began.
The History of Advent Calendars
During the 19th century, German protestants would mark their doors with chalk to count down the 24 days before Christmas.
Soon after, families started making homemade advent calendars to achieve the same goal.
For example, in the early 1900s Gerhard Lang created the first printed advent calendar. He was inspired by the calendar his mother made for him as a child, which held 24 candies leading up to Christmas.
Lang’s advent calendar contained 24 small, colorful pictures that children could reveal each day. By the 1920s and 1930s, publishers like Reichhold & Lang started mass producing these advent calendars.
Now, advent calendars come in all shapes and sizes – not just the classic rectangular poster.
You can get advent calendars shaped like:
- Christmas trees
- Santa Claus
- Snowflakes
- Trucks and cars
- Houses
- Barns
And rather than just pictures or candies, some modern advent calendars contain little toys, beauty products or other creative items.
Heck, you can even get an advent beer calendar with a different brew behind each numbered flap!
But no matter what shape your calendar takes on, one question still remains…
Should you start on day 1 and count up? Or on day 24 and count down?
To Count Up Or Down: What’s the Right Way?
If we look back at the origins of advent calendars, German protestants would add a chalk mark for each new day leading up to Christmas.
So technically, the very first advent “calendars” were actually counted up rather than down.
However, some argue that since Christmas landing on December 25th is a fixed date, an advent calendar should count down the 24 days from that date.
Obviously this debate is more lighthearted than serious. But I decided to dig into some historical facts to help put this debate to rest:
Fact #1: It wasn’t until the early 1900s that the first commercially printed advent calendars emerged. And the creators designed them in a “count up” format starting with Day 1.
For example, Gerhard Lang printed the numbers 1 to 24 on flaps, where number 24 opened to reveal the Christmas scene.
Fact #2: Traditional advent wreaths always light candles in order beginning with week one. The first candle symbolizes expectation an anticipation (like opening your first calendar flap). From there you “add” candles leading up to the 4th, which lands on Christmas Eve.
Fact #3: The word “advent” comes from the Latin term “adventus”, meaning arrival. So during the season we are counting up and anticipating the arrival of Christmas day.
Taken together, it seems clear that historically advent was designed as a way to count up days rather than count down.
So if historical accuracy is what you’re after, starting with day 1 and counting up until Christmas is the way to go.
But hey, it’s your advent calendar after all! If going the countdown route makes it more fun for you, by all means give it a shot.
5 Tips for Creating Your Own Advent Calendar
Part of the magic of advent is using your imagination to build unique calendars for your family or to give as gifts.
Need a little inspiration? Here are my top 5 tips for crafting the perfect custom advent calendar:
1. Use Supplies You Already Have at Home
Don’t feel like you need fancy craft paper or supplies (unless you want them!). Many everyday household items make great DIY advent calendar building blocks:
- Cereal or cracker boxes
- Mason jars
- Shoe boxes
- Soup cans
Flip them over or wrap them to hide the labels. Then use markers, stickers, construction paper, or wrapping paper to decorate.
2. Make it Meaningful
Do you have a favorite Christmas book or movie? Or want to teach kids about the history leading up to Jesus’ birth?
Craft your calendar to tell a story! Fill it with relevant symbols, sayings, or facts to reveal each day.
For example, hide angel figurines behind certain days to tell the story of the angel Gabriel visiting Mary. Or include scripture verses that prophesize Jesus’ birth.
3. Personalize the Surprises
Mini chocolate bars or candies seem to be the go-to advent prizes. But you can get really creative with what to stash behind each numbered flap or drawer!
Mini personal care items (lotions, soaps)
Stickers
Small lego sets
Notes with Christmas memories of your family
Travel-sized treats
Customize it to your gift recipient’s hobbies – mini yarns of floss for crafters, guitar picks for musicians, etc. They’ll love seeing their interests in each day’s surprise!
4. Give it a Theme
From superheros to snowflakes, a fun theme can take your advent to the next level.
It ties all 25 surprises together, making the calendar tell a cohesive story. Themes also make awesome names for your custom creation like “The Avengers Advent” or “The North Pole Countdown”.
5. Make it a Family Activity
Why not get the kids involved? Let them help:
- Pick out building materials from around the house
- Come up with creative themes
- Decorate the calendar exterior
- Choose and wrap surprises for each day
Not only does this build excitement for them, but it also helps teach why advent is such a cherished tradition for the Christmas season.
Now You Know Whether (And How) To Count Up Or Down!
And there you have it – the complete history along with expert tips on how to properly use an advent calendar!
So whether you decide to start on day 1 and count up or begin on day 24 and count down, hopefully you feel ready to make the holiday season extra fun for you and your family.
After all, when it comes to Christmas traditions what truly matters is that it brings you joy, excitement, reflection, and quality time with your loved ones.
I’d love to hear your thoughts and plans for celebrating advent this holiday season! Feel free to share them in the comments below.