Advent Calendar Origin & History (3/3)
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Advent calendars in the war era
With the outbreak of World War II, paper was rationed in Germany. At the beginning of the 1940s, the printing of illustrated calendars was stopped because it was considered “unimportant to the war effort”. In 1941, church-run media was forbidden. Instead, the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (Nazi party) produced its own national socialist calendar and distributed it among citizens. It was comprised of a small booklet which included stories, songs, sayings, as well as instructions for coloring and arts and crafts. The obvious goal was the reinterpretation of the Advent season: all church-related and religious elements were removed and replaced with symbols of the new ideology, with reference to supposedly Germanic roots. The Advent wreath became the Solstice wreath, the Christ child became the “child of light”. The German word “Vorweihnachten” (pre-Christmas) replaced the Latin term Advent, Saint Nikolaus was replaced by the Rider on the White Horse, which was then associated with the god Wotan.
Developments after World War II
Advent calendars were once again printed for Christmas in 1945; there was a strong desire to return to Christian values and the old traditions. Companies which hadn’t been destroyed and which had paper on hand once again published the motifs from before the war, among others.
After the first Advent calendars became established throughout the German speaking world in the 1930s, including in Austria and Switzerland, the Advent calendar was now positioned for worldwide success, and became widespread in Great Britain and the USA. Today, Advent calendars are printed by the millions in Germany, and more than half of them are exported for sale abroad.
Since their first beginnings in the 19th century, handmade Advent calendars have been individually designed and created with enthusiasm. It is no longer only children who receive Advent calendars as gifts; adults also give each other Advent calendars, and children make them for their parents.
While the shape, type and appearance of Advent calendars has changed over time, the mission of the Advent calendar has remained the same: bringing joy to people. The Advent calendar is an expression of the uniqueness of the Christmas season and the excitement leading up to Christmas.
After the first Advent calendars became established throughout the German speaking world in the 1930s, including in Austria and Switzerland, the Advent calendar was now positioned for worldwide success, and became widespread in Great Britain and the USA. Today, Advent calendars are printed by the millions in Germany, and more than half of them are exported for sale abroad.
Since their first beginnings in the 19th century, handmade Advent calendars have been individually designed and created with enthusiasm. It is no longer only children who receive Advent calendars as gifts; adults also give each other Advent calendars, and children make them for their parents.
While the shape, type and appearance of Advent calendars has changed over time, the mission of the Advent calendar has remained the same: bringing joy to people. The Advent calendar is an expression of the uniqueness of the Christmas season and the excitement leading up to Christmas.
Sources
Tina Peschel, Adventskalender – Geschichte und Geschichten aus 100 Jahren (Advent calendars – History and anecdotes), Verlag der Kunst, 2009
Esther Gajek, Adventskalender – von den Anfängen bis zur Gegenwart (Advent calendars – From the beginnings to the present), Süddeutscher Verlag
Esther Gajek, Türchen Auf! Zur Geschichte des Adventskalenders (Doors open! On the history of the Advent calendar) in:
Alois Döring, Dem Licht entgegen (Towards the light), Greven Verlag Köln 2010
Markus Mergenthaler, Adventskalender im Wandel der Zeit (Advent calendars in changing times), Knauf Museum Iphofen, 2007
Thomas Mann, Buddenbrooks – Verfall einer Familie, Fischer, 1901
Dominik Wunderlin, Seit wann gibt es Adventskalender (Since when has the Advent calendar existed), Schweizer Volkskunde, 1980
Tina Peschel, Adventskalender – Geschichte und Geschichten aus 100 Jahren (Advent calendars – History and anecdotes), Verlag der Kunst, 2009
Esther Gajek, Adventskalender – von den Anfängen bis zur Gegenwart (Advent calendars – From the beginnings to the present), Süddeutscher Verlag
Esther Gajek, Türchen Auf! Zur Geschichte des Adventskalenders (Doors open! On the history of the Advent calendar) in:
Alois Döring, Dem Licht entgegen (Towards the light), Greven Verlag Köln 2010
Markus Mergenthaler, Adventskalender im Wandel der Zeit (Advent calendars in changing times), Knauf Museum Iphofen, 2007
Thomas Mann, Buddenbrooks – Verfall einer Familie, Fischer, 1901
Dominik Wunderlin, Seit wann gibt es Adventskalender (Since when has the Advent calendar existed), Schweizer Volkskunde, 1980