On the way to Christmas
Now that you ate all the chocolates in your advent calendar waiting for Christmas day, what would you say about discovering the story of these little boxes you love so much ?
Once upon a time in Germany, children were about to celebrate Jesus Christ’s birth. They were longing for Christmas. But twenty-four days is a pretty long time to wait for a holiday! It was in the nineteenth century when parents first decided to give their children a little religious picture to count the days before Christmas. The pictures were illustrated with scenes from the gospel or holy icons that acted as prayer support. As the years passed by, these pictures became more and more elaborated and were embellished with colours, lace, gold, etc. At the very beginning of the twentieth century, a mother from Maulbronn decided to take it to the next level: each morning she gave her child little traditional German cookies. You’re happy to eat your little piece of chocolate every day for twenty-four days straight? Well, thank her!
Now that you ate all the chocolates in your advent calendar waiting for Christmas day, what would you say about discovering the story of these little boxes you love so much ?
Once upon a time in Germany, children were about to celebrate Jesus Christ’s birth. They were longing for Christmas. But twenty-four days is a pretty long time to wait for a holiday! It was in the nineteenth century when parents first decided to give their children a little religious picture to count the days before Christmas. The pictures were illustrated with scenes from the gospel or holy icons that acted as prayer support. As the years passed by, these pictures became more and more elaborated and were embellished with colours, lace, gold, etc. At the very beginning of the twentieth century, a mother from Maulbronn decided to take it to the next level: each morning she gave her child little traditional German cookies. You’re happy to eat your little piece of chocolate every day for twenty-four days straight? Well, thank her!
Nowadays, the tradition is established. When December comes around, we run to the store to choose our calendar. The question is: which one? During the last century, the practice anchored very well into the Christmas logic of consumption. Every brand is launching each year its own version combining attractive external aesthetics and attractive surprises inside. Do you want tea? coffee? beer? wine? cosmetics? toys? candles? socks??? Even if you stick to the love of your life (of course I’m talking about chocolate here), the choice is endless!
One thing hasn’t changed though: the Advent Calendar kept the same didactic function. It teaches children and grow-ups to wait. Each box is a little reward for waiting one day more. Even if it’s all part of the fury of Christmas now and even if the religious meaning has been faded out, it’s a good lesson of patience (and the best way to survive until the holidays).
Designed by Giulia Cristofoli
Do you want to double-check the information you just received? Here are the sources the writer used.
