My daughter’s godmother sends her an advent calendar every year; a traditional open-the-flap affair. The reward? A holiday image (sleighs, Christmas baubles, etc.).
Advent calendars have their roots in the 19th century, when German Lutherans began marking the days leading up to Christmas with simple chalk marks on walls or doors, lighting candles, and lining nativity cribs with straw.
For the purists among us, here are a few more humble ideas for the holiday:
Above: The canvas Star Christmas Calendar from Ferm Living has golden embroideries and 24 little pockets to fill; $109 (it’s also available in dark green).
Above: The Wally and Whiz Danish Gummy Advent Calendar is on sale at Food52 for $46.67. It includes an array of gummies in flavor combinations, like cherry and vanilla, elderflower and yuzu, and hibiscus and raspberry.
Above: Our friend Meg of Meg Cohen Design offers a small-batch Advent Calendar with windows that open to reveal images of the heavens culled from ancient manuscripts and printed on parchment paper, which, held up to the light, create a stained glass window effect. The advent calendar comes with a decorative mailing envelope. Images curated by Stephen Ellcock; $16 from Meg Cohen Design.
Above: The Angelina Advent Calendar features a collection of 24 wrapped confections, from French classics like chocolate-covered dentelle crepes to morsels of chocolate and hazelnut gianduja. The calendar depicts a festive scene of the interior of the Angelina cafe in Paris. $80 from Zingerman’s.
Above: The Pine Christmas Calendar is a modern take on the traditional Danish julekalender, or Christmas calendar, from Ferm Living is $115.
