ATP Question: When did the tradition of Advent start? What is the history behind it?
Answer: The tradition of Advent itself started back in at least 567 AD when monks were ordered to fast during December leading up to Christmas. The tradition in the Catholic church is some people fast (don't eat anything) during advent to help them concentrate on preparing to celebrate Jesus's coming. So in many Orthodox and Eastern Catholics Churches, Advent lasts for 40 days and starts on November 15th and is also called the Nativity Fast. (Advent also starts on November 15th in Celtic Christianity.)
But the Advent most of us know (starting the four Sundays before Christmas) started in the 1850’s in Germany when they started making home made calendars with windows to open and seeing a Nativity image inside which actually goes back to Medieval times when they painted Nativity scenes. So the calendars started at that time, and then became really popular during WW2. The traditional Advent calendars had no chocolate, rather just the windows to open with pictures inside... scenes of the Nativity.
This one has scripture on the inside of the doors. We bought this years ago not realizing the history behind this kind of Advent calendar.
Cool! Merry Christmas!
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