The Advent calendars on the shelves are colourful and flashy and are filled with all kinds of treats, from chocolates to mini sausages. Originally, the season was about fasting. So how does this all fit together?
Twenty-four surprises sweeten the count-down to Christmas. That is what the Advent calendar is all about. The tradition goes back to 1839 in a children’s home in the German city of Hamburg. Johann Heinrich Wichern, who ran the home, set up a wagon wheel with candles: red candles for weekdays and white candles for Sundays. Every day during devotions, one of the children would light one of the candles.
This idea was imitated and developed further over the years. Sometimes children would receive 24 pictures to hang up, sometimes they would be given a piece of straw every day to place in the manger for the baby Jesus. Or they would be allowed to wipe a line of chalk off a wall daily to count down the days to Christmas.
The twentieth century saw the start of the industrial production of Advent calendars with printed cardboard flaps behind which a small surprise was hidden.
Bigger, flashier, more original
While the calendars initially featured Christmas motifs, Bible verses, biscuits, or mini chocolates, today they seem to want to outdo each other in terms of exclusivity: there are calendars with crisps (chips), sausage snacks, teas, craft supplies, cosmetic products, tools, jewellery, toys for children and adults, and even lottery tickets.
Every year, the city of Leipzig in Germany hosts the largest free-standing Advent calendar, covering 875 square metres. And the most expensive was probably the one-million-dollar Advent calendar designed by Harrods, a London department store, in 2010, featuring surprises such as 18-carat gold sunglasses, a motorboat, and a designer kitchen.
A counter trend
But a counter-trend is emerging. The idea of the Advent calendar is being flipped on its head. Rather than receiving something daily, the idea is to give. That means, sorting through your things daily, and donating one item you no longer need. This comes down to decluttering and getting rid of things we no longer really need, freeing ourselves in the process, and learning to do with less. A trend that recalls and ties in with another often-forgotten Advent tradition: fasting.
Inner contemplation instead of preloading
Yes, fasting used to be an integral part of Advent. This tradition dates back to the fourth century, but began to fade at the beginning of the twentieth century.
An Advent fast was about breaking one’s own habits, both when it came to eating and in one’s everyday routine: pausing, reflecting, silence, renunciation, space for new thoughts, and inner reflection through prayer and Bible reading. The idea was to free oneself and let go of things in order to focus on that which was truly important.
Preparing one’s heart
The almost lost tradition of the Advent fast and the new trend of a reverse Advent calendar go together wonderfully. Because there is not only enough that needs to be decluttered behind the doors of our own homes, but also behind the doors of our hearts.
All we need to do is open our mind and soul and see what’s hiding there: guilt, wounded pride, unresolved situations, lies, reproaches, frustration, resentment, anger, excessive perfectionism, disappointment, lack of understanding, negative thought patterns, unfulfilled expectations, the feeling of always having to function, dissatisfaction? All of this is not only detrimental to our day-to-day lives, but also to our faith, and our relationships with others and with God.
Letting go, freeing up, getting rid of things, getting our own thoughts in order, opening up offers of peace for ourselves and others, and focusing on that which is good and being aware of it … Advent offers a wonderful opportunity to do just that. If we tidy up and declutter like this, we can look forward to a particularly bright Christmas and welcome the Saviour into a tidy and cosy heart on Christmas Eve.
Photo: Septarim – stock.adobe.com