SALT LAKE CITY — Advent, which officially begins Dec. 1 this year, has changed over time, though one aspect has not: anticipation. The word comes from Latin for “coming.”
Various sources offer slightly contradictory details, but Advent likely began as a period of preparation for the baptism of new Christians at the January feast of Epiphany, according to Christianity.com. In the sixth century, Advent was tied to Christ, but referred to his arrival as judge, not his birth in a manger. The connection to his birth was made in the Middle Ages and — for the faithful, at least — remains.
Advent starts on whichever Sunday falls between Nov. 27 and Dec. 3. According to WhyChristmas.com, German Protestant Christians in the 1800s counted down the days to Christmas by making 24 chalk lines on a door and then erasing them day by day until they were gone and the big day arrived. That was probably the first Advent calendar, now a Christmas tradition. Advent candles with notches serve a similar role, burning down one notch a day until Christmas.
But has the Advent calendar ever changed! While traditional Advent calendars feature scenes deemed sacred, like the Nativity, they’re in the minority these days. It’s not hard to find an Advent calendar to suit any taste, from beauty supplies to pork rinds. Food, in fact, is a common Advent calendar theme, from inexpensive milk chocolate bits for children to small jars of different-flavored jams. This year, ManCrates.com had a $79 Advent calendar for those who love beef jerky that sold out early, but you can still get toys and writing products in Advent calendar form. Or you can buy calendars that let you decide how you’d like to fill them.
You can even count down with socks, which are popular advent calendar items this year, from the Marcoliani collection ($475) for men to the Disney princess 12-pair set for $35, with lots of other characters and prices from which to pick. Most sock calendars contain 12 pairs, while most other advent calendars contain 24 items.
One Advent calendar that gets to the heart of the season’s more spiritual meaning can be downloaded and printed at The House That Lars Built. You glue it together yourself and when it’s done, each of its little windows opens to offer a suggestion for serving and loving others, like inviting someone to a holiday event or writing a thank-you note to a mentor or teacher.
We hunted local stores and scoured the internet to capture the variety of Advent calendars out there. Most, by the way, are not especially religious, though a hearty number embrace some form of pop culture, from Anna and Elsa of “Frozen 2” to the minions from “Despicable Me,” from Lego Star Wars to Marvel characters.
Here’s a sampling:
Multiply Goodness creates Bible study guides for traditional Christian and Latter-day Saint women and offers a celebration of Advent that focuses on the names and character of Christ with numbered cards that form the calendar. It’s based on 25 names of Christ found in scripture, then provides specific references and questions to ponder by oneself or discuss with family and friends.
The priciest Advent calendar for 2019 we found was one by Tiffany & Co., a 4-foot tall rendering of the famed Fifth Avenue flagship store. It opens up to reveal a literal treasure trove, its 24 gifts boasting lots of rose gold and diamonds, silver, platinum and other shiny features in key chain and pendant and other jewelry form, as well as sterling versions of ordinary items like a clothespin. The company said it only made four of the calendars, which sell for $112,000 each.
Cat lovers get a kick out of this Advent calendar for kitties, courtesy of Trader Joe’s. It retails for about $6 and features everything from tuna to toys, catnip and other delights that only a feline could fancy. Salmon-flavored treats? Meow.
Folks who are really serious about chocolate like this calendar, which features handcrafted, small-batch fine chocolates from multiple artisans in California. The Dandelion Chocolate Advent calendar is available in two forms: A calendar for one, with beautiful packaging, is $125. Or a couple can enjoy the same collection, for two, for $200. As each day of Advent unfolds, they plan a treat reveal, where people can learn more about the day’s chocolate and its creator.
The Heidel Advent calendar is one of many sweet milk chocolate-filled Advent calendars that are popular with kids and adults alike. This inexpensive version is readily available at many stores, from World Market to Siegfried’s Deli in Salt Lake City.
As noted, characters are big in Advent calendars this year, but this Harry Potter-themed calendar focuses on the tools, rather than the people behind the series, featuring 24 little treasures including notebooks, a wand pen, decals and more. The recommended retail price is in the mid $60s.
The Kurt Adler Merry Christmas Advent calendar book opens to reveal a Christmas tree on one side and tiny drawers with ornaments on the other side. Decorate the tree as Christmas approaches. With sturdy wood construction, it graced shelves in furniture and department stores, often available at a discount with other purchases.
Macy’s 25 Days of Beauty Advent calendar is among dozens that are packed with beauty products, across a wide range of prices. This one contains a little of everything, from masks and eyeliner to an exfoliator, moisturizer, lotion and lipstick, among others.
Crayola’s Christmas Countdown calendar features 24 craft-related items for children ages 3 and up. Behind each door there’s an art supply and an idea of what to do with it.
The BYOB Hot Sauce calendar’s one of the more unusual edible entries into this year’s wide selection of Advent calendars. Street Insider says each of the 25 two-ounce bottles holds slow-simmered Louisiana-style hot sauce — with 10 different peppers and combinations that make each bottle “a uniquely sizzling experience.”
The Bodleian Library Christmas Bookshelf Advent calendar is made with thick, high-quality 8-by-10 paper, more like a traditional Advent calendar, and it’s quite simply beautiful. Open the 24 windows to find miniature versions of some of the most famous paintings from the Bodleian collection. It’s built like a card and the inside is blank, so you can write a message and send it off to a friend.
Ashland made one of the largest calendars, with stuff-it-yourself, festively colored drawers that hold candies, notes or small trinkets. There are two bigger drawers for more substantial gifts. We stuffed one with trinkets and sent it off to a loved one. Originally priced around $100, we found it on sale at half that.
Orna-POP!™ Advent Countdown calendar lets kids pop the treasures to see which Mylar ornaments they contain. Lots of surprises, then you hang them on the Christmas tree.