The History of the Christmas Calendar: From Simple Beginnings to a Beloved Holiday Tradition 🎄🎁

When December arrives and the nights draw in, there’s something magical about counting down the days to Christmas. For many of us — whether you're in a cosy London flat, a snowy New England town, or anywhere in between — opening a tiny door or marking off a day on a Christmas calendar is as much a part of the season as mince pies and mistletoe.

But have you ever wondered where this delightful tradition began?

Let’s unwrap the story...

It All Started with a Mother’s Love

The roots of the Christmas calendar — or Advent calendar, as it's known traditionally — can be traced back to 19th-century Germany. Families, particularly in Protestant communities, developed ways to count down the days of Advent. Simple practices included:

• Marking chalk lines on doors.
• Lighting a candle each day.
• Hanging devotional images on the wall.

One of the earliest known inspirations comes from a little boy named Gerhard Lang. Growing up in the late 1800s, Gerhard's mother created a homemade calendar by attaching 24 tiny sweets onto cardboard — a little treat for each day of December leading up to Christmas Eve. Years later, Lang turned this cherished childhood memory into a business idea. In 1908, he printed what’s considered the first commercial Advent calendar: a sheet with little pictures behind tiny doors to open each day.

But, early calendars didn’t have chocolates tucked inside. That sweet twist didn’t appear until the 1950s!

The Christmas Calendar Travels Abroad

It wasn’t long before this charming German tradition spread across Europe — and eventually across the Atlantic to the United States.

• During World War II, cardboard shortages in Germany meant that Advent calendars almost disappeared altogether. Some wartime calendars had no little windows — just drawings printed on paper. Later, In Britain, it became popular among families, when production picked up again.
• The Royal Family’s Influence: Queen Elizabeth II was known to send out beautiful Advent calendars to family members — in Britain, this gave a little extra prestige to the tradition during the mid-20th century.
• British calendars often featured nativity scenes, snowy village landscapes, and cosy Victorian Christmas imagery — all the comforting touches that Charles Dickens himself would have adored.
• Oldest Surviving Calendar: The oldest known printed Advent calendar dates back to 1903, and an original one from Gerhard Lang’s early series is now displayed in museums (and can fetch thousands at auction!).

• The chocolate-filled versions we know today gained popularity in both the UK and US from the 1950s onward — though purists sometimes prefer the classic picture-only versions!

UK-Specific Touches

In Britain, it’s still quite common to see gorgeous illustrated Advent calendars featuring scenes from traditional English life: carolers outside a country church, a robin perched on a snowy postbox, or bustling Christmas markets in quaint old towns.

• Blue Peter’s DIY Advent Calendar: For many Britons growing up in the 70s, 80s, and 90s, making a homemade Advent calendar with sticky-back plastic on the TV show Blue Peter was an essential part of childhood!
• High-Street Luxury: In the UK today, Liberty London, Fortnum & Mason, and even Selfridges compete to create jaw-dropping luxury Advent calendars — some costing over £200, filled with tiny perfumes, jewellery, or artisan chocolates.

Modern Twists on a Timeless Tradition

Today, the Christmas calendar has taken on a dazzling variety of forms:

• Luxury advent calendars filled with skincare products, craft beers, or gourmet teas.
• Pet Advent Calendars: Yes, it’s now common to find Advent calendars for cats and dogs — filled with treats and tiny toys.
• Non-Christmas Versions: Some companies make "Advent-style" calendars for other holidays or seasons — like Halloween or even Easter countdowns!
• DIY calendars crafted at home with love (and a bit of glitter!).
• Online or printable calendars — like the ones you can create on our site — allowing you to design your own festive countdown, filled with personal events and traditions.

Some families make it a tradition to build their own reusable fabric or wooden calendars, slipping in little notes, sweets, or tiny surprises for each day.

And who could resist the thrill of opening a tiny door to find a miniature Father Christmas or a foil-wrapped chocolate star?

5 Quirky Advent Calendars You Won’t Believe Exist

• Cheese Advent Calendar — A different mini cheese each day.
• Whisky Advent Calendar — A dram a day for grown-ups.
• LEGO Advent Calendar — Build a new piece every day.
• Candle Advent Calendar — A new scent for each winter evening.
• Acts of Kindness Calendar — Instead of gifts, it prompts you to do a daily good deed.

Why We Still Love Advent Calendars

At its heart, the Christmas calendar isn’t just about counting down the days — it’s about savouring the season. In the rush of modern life, it’s a reminder to pause, take a breath, and find joy in the small, sparkling moments.

Whether you're flipping open a luxurious Liberty of London calendar, a simple chocolate one from the corner shop, or a printed calendar filled with your family's own December traditions, you're taking part in a beloved ritual that stretches back generations. And isn’t that the real magic of Christmas?