Friday, November 9, 2012

Friday Inspiration

My sister and I both had (at least) one Christmas calendar every year when we were kids. It was an integral part of the holiday season when growing up. It's hard to beat a good Christmas (or advent, depends who you ask) calendar.


It doesn't seem to be as big of a thing here in North America as it is back in Finland. Is it a Scandinavian or perhaps a European thing? Can anyone from elsewhere than Finland elaborate on this?


Anyhow, going a little bonkers over Christmas has made me continue this tradition all the years I've been in Canada. Since we don't have kids, I make one for Chris every year. The only year I missed it was two years ago when we got married. Our wedding date is November 20th, so that was the one year I simply couldn't squeeze making one in. There was enough going on planning a destination wedding. We basically got home just at the beginning of December, so I couldn't even make one when we got back.


I have a lot of fun making the calendar and I've tried quite a few different methods to making one. I like a ton of little presents the best. I usually put them in a large glass bowl, so they'll work as decoration as well.


I do like the idea of little envelopes, I'd hang them on a clothes line. You can't go wrong with envelopes. I made a few sets for my shop. However, if you're craftily inclined, you could put one together yourself.

Have you ever had an Advent Calendar? What type is your favourite?

6 comments:

  1. Advent Calendars are huuuuge in Germany. As far as I know, they have been common here for at least 100 years - at least there is one mentioned in Buddenbrooks.

    I also like those with little gifts the most. When I was little we (my brothers and I) had one with small fabric bags my mother sewed. Now I'm usually receiving one with little gifts from my boyfriend and one with chocolates from his mother - she sends them to each of her children and their partners in the end of November :)

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    1. Oh, and when I was living in Colombia I got an extra-big one from my boyfriend filled with German goodies - that one was my favourite advent calendar ever!

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    2. I just checked out the one you put in your shop - it's lovely!

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    3. I guess the calendars are a (northern) European tradition... I just love those things! Sounds like the one you got while in Colombia will be hard to beat! XD

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  2. I love the concept of advent calendars, but I don't have the patient personality necessary to abide by the one-a-day rule of advent calendars. You can't put something in front of me and tell me that I can't have it all. right. now. That's just cruel and the gimme-gimme-gimme in me won't allow it! :)

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    1. Yeah, it is kinda tough... I guess I'm now conditioned into waiting since I've been going through this since I was a kid...

      I remember the best ones being these specific chocolate filled calendars. They had a plastic tray inside where the chocolates came loose. Then there was that glorious morning when you opened one of the little doors at the bottom and you'd get like 3 pieces of candy since they had fallen to the bottom. (Of course this meant you'd get empty ones eventually too, but you worry about that when you cross that bridge)

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