Again, it’s that time of year! It is time to decorate the Christmas tree, hang the stockings, and obtain your preferred Advent calendar.
What are Advent calendars exactly, and how did they originate?
According to legend, the Advent calendar was first utilized by German Lutherans in the 19th and 20th centuries, before spreading to other Christian denominations. In the early 1900s, Gerhard Lang is credited with producing the first printed Advent calendar. During World War II, his company was forced to close.
Richard Sellmer began mass manufacture of Advent calendars in the late 1940s. In the 1950s, his company began importing these calendars into the United States, and it continues to operate today. The first chocolate Advent calendar was manufactured in 1958.
Typically, advent calendars begin on December 1 and end on Christmas Day. The secular world has adopted these advent calendars by giving a modest treat or present on each of the days leading up to Christmas. Nevertheless, Advent calendars can also be religious by include a daily prayer or meditation as the world awaits Jesus’ birth.
Advent calendars, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, “may help you fully enter into the season with daily activity and prayer recommendations to prepare you spiritually for the birth of Jesus Christ” and serve as a reminder of the season’s actual meaning.
So, which Advent calendars are our favorites this year?
The Precious Moments Nativity Advent calendar is an excellent way to revisit the Christmas tale. Boxes made of wood contain figurines of the magi, shepherds, farm animals, and, of course, the Holy Family, which correspond to a brief reading. As you place each figurine in the stable atop the calendar, it is a wonderful way to bring the family together to read a portion of the Christmas story.
If you’re looking for a way to get children more involved, Loyola Press offers a printable Advent calendar that encourages children to perform a random act of kindness every day during Advent. “I will be a peacemaker today at school and at home” is one example. “I will be grateful and thank God for all the food I have today,” and “I will treat everyone I meet with kindness today.”
Several Advent calendars in the EWTN Religious Catalog recount the Nativity story. As you open each flap on the calendar, biblical text will recount the birth of Jesus. Depending on the calendar you select, you may even be able to indulge in a sweet treat!
Consider Father Matthew Kauth’s Good Catholic’s Journey to Christmas if you are an adult seeking to delve deeper into your faith during Advent. You will receive daily devotional emails, weekly guidance videos, written reflections, and more through this program. This series can assist you in avoiding the business of the season and remaining focused on its true purpose.
If you prefer to listen to daily meditations and prayers, Hallow’s Advent #Pray25 challenge is for you. Participants will reflect on biblical passages that led to the birth of Jesus. From the Old Testament to the New Testament, the daily meditations will focus on how God has called people throughout history. This year’s challenge will be led by the cast of “The Chosen,” including, among others, Jonathan Roumie, who portrays Jesus, Elizabeth Tabish, who portrays Mary Magdalene, George Xanthis, who portrays John the Evangelist, and Dallas Jenkins, the show’s director and creator.
While it’s easy to get caught up in the holiday season’s bustle, remember that Jesus’ presence is the only gift that truly matters this Christmas.