12-01-2014, 06:09 AM,
(This post was last modified: 12-01-2014, 06:12 AM by Eva Elisabeth.)
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Eva Elisabeth
Hero Member
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Posts: 6,598
Threads: 69
Joined: Apr 2013
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Trivia Advent Calendar
Happy Advent to all! Today is Dec.1 and in Germany time to put up and open the first window of the Advent calendar. So my idea was to also "put up" a trivia Advent calendar for the forum members. Before explaining the rules please allow me a short glimpse on the history of this custom which, AFAIK, is less common outside Germany, Austria, and Scandinavia.
The first Advent calendar was invented in 1851 to help the children count down and await the time until Xmas. The kids got 24 pictures, one day by day, to put up on the wall.
In 1903, the first printed Advent calendar, entitled "ln the Land of the Christ child" was produced:
It consisted of two sheets of paper - one with pictures to cut one out each day, and another one to complete by sticking them in.
In 1920, calendars with windows to open came up:
I grew up with the chocolate version, which you will find in every German home with kids (and not only there):
...despite the homemade one (and it's almost more fun to create than getting one as there are so many cool ideas):
The Scandinavian tradition is to burn down a marked bit of a candle each day:
Not only kids get Advent calendars! There's e.g. the beer version for the gentleman, or the cosmetics version for his spouse. And not to forget the dear pets:
Newspapers and magazines, on- and offline, launch Advent calendars, e.g. this free-download-software:
http://www.chip.de/s_specials/Download-A...17484.html
Finally, many German townhalls are now decorated as an Advent calendar, e.g. the Hünfeld townhall:
Now back to the trivia. I will open now a window to peep through at a well-known "Lincoln story" picture or item, and I hope you'll have fun trying to guess what is "behind" the window.
(Maybe my shedule won't allow to provide a new window each day - but you are welcome to add and post your ideas, too!)
Voilà, window #1:
Who/what is behind this window?
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12-01-2014, 11:10 AM,
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RE: Trivia Advent Calendar
(12-01-2014, 07:27 AM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote: PS: My personal delight is to count down till Dec.21, the darkest day of the year - afterwards daylight time will increase again!! Yeah! Thanks God!!
PPS: I'm curious and eager to learn, especially about customs and traditions (so interesting!) - did you grow up with an Advent calendar, or made one for your kids or dear ones? What kind of? Please share! Thanks!
Eva, I am right with you on the countdown to the increase in daylight time on the 21st! I am already far past tired of going to work in the dark and getting home in the dark!
As far as the advent calendar, we had them when I was a child. I especially remember one very fondly. Each night after our evening meal we would gather around the Christmas tree and turn on the lights (always a joy to a child). Then just before bed time, we would get out the advent calander. Each window that was opened revealed a small piece of chocolate. With two brothers beside myself, we either had to rotate who got the chocolate or try to share. There was such anticipation! Even as I write this, I a have a big smile on my face thinking about the multicolored lights cascading over me and my brothers lying on the floor in front of the Christmas tree. Colorfully wrapped presents surrounding the tree and us eating the chocolate and trying to guess what was in each package. Nothing like childhood Christmas memories!!
This is a great and fun idea for a Holiday trivia post! I am looking forward to more.
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12-02-2014, 09:29 AM,
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RE: Trivia Advent Calendar
One of the columns from the Lincoln Memorial?
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Trivia Advent Calendar
