Having a traditional German Advent calendar to count down the days to Christmas was as normal to me as breathing or putting on house shoes; it is just something we had in our home. Most years, they were simple, a double thick cardboard sheet printed with Christmas scenes and pretty pictures behind each door. In later years, we had German chocolate Advent Calendars with chocolates behind the doors. We even had a wonderful fabric Advent Calendar with pockets that mom filled with treats. It didn’t matter what kind of calendar (well, not that much). The Advent Calendar is an excellent way to build anticipation for the day when the biggest door could be opened!
And it was also a good teaching moment when you realized that you could open extra doors… but that didn’t make Christmas come one minute sooner!
Neuschwanstein Castle in Winter German Advent Calendar | The German Fairy Tale Castle
traditional German Advent Calendars
Advent Calendar Origin
Where did Advent Calendars come From?
In literature, the earliest mention of a countdown Calendar comes in an 1851 Children’s book by Elise Averdieck. Thomas Mann also mentions the Advent Calendar in his novel Buddenbrooks. By 1902, the first “Christmas Clock” was sold in Hamburg. It counted the days, much like a clock counts the hours with a moveable dial and hands.
We can thank a mother (naturally) for planting the seed that became the commercial Advent Calendar. In the late 1880s, little Gerhard Lang, like all little boys, was very impatient for Christmas. His mother (the wife of a Protestant Pastor) decided to make his waiting a little easier. She constructed a set of boxes and filled each with a piece of Lebkuchen… Gerhard was allowed to open one box (and eat a cookie) every day leading up to Christmas.
Paper Advent Calendars
Flash forward a few years, and Gerhard Lang is now an adult. In 1904, he produced the first paper Advent Calendar, which was inserted into the Stuttgarter Zeitung called “Im Lande des Christkindes.” The Calendars were sold in two parts- a main cardboard section divided into 24 squares, each with a verse, and a second sheet printed with colorful images. Children could cut out the pictures and glue them on appropriate squares while learning the verse.
Lang began working at publisher Reichhold & Lang in Munich a few years later. In 1908, the company started selling his Advent Calendars. Each year, new images and variations increased the popularity of his Advent Calendars, including calendars with doors, calendars that needed to be broken open, calendars that could be filled with chocolates, and even Braille Advent Calendars. Initially, sales were slow, but by the 1920s, children across Germany wanted them.
By the 1930s, Advent Calendars had spread beyond the German-speaking world to Great Britain and even the United States. However, they were still less common in the US than in Germany. (Judging by the Call the Midwife Christmas episodes, English children were using them.)
Cologne Cathedral German Advent Christmas Calendar
Today, Advent Calendars have swept the world, and you’ll find them all over the US. The German chocolate Advent Calendars are the most common (especially themed to children’s TV programs or movies). I know my children still get excited (even though they are officially adults) about opening the doors and finding a shaped piece of chocolate!
Not to be outdone, Toy companies are releasing Advent Calendars that create a scene made from Legos or Playmobil. Some have a holiday or religious scene, others are just for play.
We have a few Advent Calendars in our home, even though my kids aren’t here to open the doors. Every year, I carefully set up the Traditional Paper Calendar showing the Prinzipalmarkt in Münster because I love the nostalgia, and I put up the lovely wall hanging that my aunt made, filling each pocket with mini-chocolates (Milka Naps are best!). Then, there is a wooden Advent House, and behind each door is a forest animal. The Playmobil Advent Calendar waits in the attic for the next generation…
With all of these Advent Calendars, there is NO WAY we will ever miss Christmas!
But my favorites will always be the paper Advent Calendars. With a little care, you can bring them back out year after year.
Traditional German Advent Calendars
These Traditional German Advent Calendars are made from card stock. Each door opens to show a small picture or verse.
When placed in front of a light, there is a glow through the open doors. You can re-use these Advent Calendars, just close the doors…. but they aren’t really the same after use.
Still, the pictures on these Advent Calendars are quite beautiful. They even become collectors items.
Large Round Nativity German Advent Calendar Made in Germany Christmas CountdownDreaming of Angels German Christmas Paper Advent CalendarWinter Castle German Advent CalendarChildren Playing in Snow German Advent CalendarTall Christmas House German Advent Calendar Christmas Countdown Made in GermanySellmer Seasonal Decorative Market at Neuschwanstein (With Envelope) Christmas Advent Calendar – 11Cologne Cathedral German Advent Christmas CalendarWinter Nativity Scene German Advent CalendarSellmer Dwarfs in the Snow Advent CalendarSellmer Angels Stairway Advent Calendar
Kreuter Advent Calendars
Kreuter makes beautiful photographic Advent Calendars.
Rothenburg ob der Tauber – Photographic Advent Calendar – by KreuterKreuter Old Sheep Pen with Nativity Scenes- Photographic Advent CalendarKreuter Neuschwanstein Castle – Photographic Advent CalendarKreuter Frauenkirche Dresden – Photographic Advent Calendar
Advent Calendars from Germany
These beautiful calendars are shipped from Germany … so be mindful of shipping costs. But they are so lovely.
Nostalgie im Advent: Abreißkalender, 24 BlattAMAZON.DE
Adventskalender “Weihnachtsabend im DorfAMAZON.DE
Wandkalender: Nostalgischer TannenkranzAMAZON.DEWandkalender: Weihnachtliches Stadtpanorama KalenderAMAZON.DEWandkalender – Der Dienstplan des WeihnachtsmannsAMAZON.DEA4-Wandkalender: Weihnachten im DorfAMAZON.DE
Vintage German Advent Calendars
These old fashioned paper Advent Calendars are collectors items! I love the illustrations and glitter … they take me back to my childhood.
West Germany Advent Calender Die Cut
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German Chocolate Advent Calendars
Open a door the door of these German Chocolate Advent Calendar, and get a super special treat, a piece of chocolate (just one per day!).
But some are more than just simple chocolates… they are filled with Kinder Schokolade, Lindt, and Ritter Sport!
There are even 3 D Advent Houses filled with Chocolate! What child (or adult) wouldn’t be happy counting down the days until Christmas with such a wonderful Advent Calendar!
Most though are simple… a sort of thick cardboard that holds pockets of chocolates. Perfect to satisfy the sweet tooth just a little bit each day, until the magical time when you open the last doors and Christmas is HERE!
For more Chocolate Advent Calendars–> German Chocolate Advent Calendars
Traditional German Advent Calendars to Use Year After Year
These are special Traditional German Advent Calendars that you can use year after year. They can even become special family heirlooms to pass down for generations. Fill them with chocolates or small trinkets.
Wooden Christmas Advent Calendars
Made in the Erzgebirge of Germany, a special luxury wooden Advent Calendar will delight anyone who sees it! This type of wooden Advent calendar will definitely become an heirloom loaded with memories.
For a bigger selection of Wooden Advent Calenders–>German Wooden Advent Calendars
Fun Advent Calendars for Kids From Playmobil
These are great because they can either be packed up again for next year… or the toys can be incorporated into the ones already in the toy box.
To see a bigger selection of Playmobil Advent Calendars–>Playmobil Advent
I really enjoyed your post. That first advent calendar brings back memories. In the 1980s, a woman I worked with did charity work with a local organization. Their yearly fundraiser was selling advent calendars from Germany. Though I don’t have the one you pictured, I have some in the same series (I recognize the style of the Santa). Though simple, they are quite beautiful. I still have several. I stopped opening the doors so as to preserve them, but I use them as part of my holiday displays.
Love it! I bring out my old ones too… the kids don’t understand why I like the ones without chocolate..
I am looking for a quality wooden advent calendar with doors or drawers that containe small painted wooden ornaments. I am not afraid to pay for quality. The Kurt Adler calendars are not good enough. Thanks!
The Seiffen Arch Advent Calendar is available again… it is quite pricey, but the quality is top notch.
I love the calendar with Santa and the lantern above. I would like to find this to purchase it. Can you help?
Ohhh… I wish I could. This one is an old Family Advent Calendar… and it’s at my mom’s house. Sadly, it’s not for sale.
This one is sort of similar… https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=6220&awinaffid=233707&clickref=advent+email&p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.etsy.com%2Flisting%2F254820702%2Fvintage-advent-calendar-west-germany