What's an advent calendar?

Question

What does it stand for? How does it work?

Answer 1

An advent calendar counts down the four weeks of Advent before Christmas. Generally, it's something comprised of 24 or 25 compartments, all numbered. Each day closer to Christmas, you open a new compartment. Inside there might be a toy, candy, or a scriptural reading. It depends on the specific calendar. Personally, I have an advent calendar at home that's a wall hanging. On it, there's a Christmas tree and 25 hooks. Each day closer to Christmas, you hang a tiny ornament on the tree. On Christmas itself, you add a baby Jesus ornament on it.

Answer 2

It's kinda like "the twelve days of Christmas": it usually has little boxes or pockets or doors or something and you open them up and it has little treats or candies or ornaments inside. The actual calendars vary.

I guess they show, like, the events leading up to Christmas (the calendar is usually a box for the month up to Dec. 25.) Maybe some are more religious, some secular. I mean, you could probably have one based on the church calendar days, or you could have one with chocolates for kids, like counting down the days to Santa.

Answer 3

It marks the beginning of X-mas season--not in Oct like retailers would like us to believe!. There are several types were you open a window and read a little saying or candy. Some have a little item you move from day-to-day until it's Christmas day. I'm a Catholic and we use it. Not sure who less does. It's just for fun.

Answer 4

It is usually a Catholic Tradition. It is a calender with the 25 days of December and each day you open one little flap and it usually states what happened that day before Christ was born. It is a way to remember why Jesus was born and what his parents went through before he was born.