creating Christmas * day 1…the Advent calendar

Well December 1st is finally here. In some ways I am glad to welcome December and in others I am feeling a mild panic; can I get everything done in time for Christmas, even a simpler Christmas?

For some reason this year my mind is a complete muddle, too many outside things going on and now the new variant news adds to the feeling of disruption and unrest.

Today is the day we reveal the first advent window. According to Google the first printed Advent calendar originated in Germany in the early 20th century with Gerhard Lang. The story goes that when Gerhard was a little boy his mother made him a calendar with 24 small candies attached to cardboard, one for each day before Christmas.

Throughout November I have kept thinking about an Advent calendar and had a look back at previous ones.

In 2012 I made these simple A5 sized calendars for myself and friends using some tiny stamps and different coloured ink pads.

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In 2018 I made a series of little cards – one for each day – with a different Christmas activity written on the back…great fun but a bit of a marathon and so very time consuming to stick with the daily cards and fit everything in.

You can read more about each daily activity and all the things I made by clicking on the wording at the bottom of each picture below to link back to the post. Alternatively click on the picture Creating Christmas in the side bar to read previous posts on everything Christmassy.

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In 2019 I decided to try and create a much simpler Christmas and found it was still as much fun. I was given a Pukka Advent calendar with a different tea bag to sample each day. I still made Christmas cards and presents but kept everything quite simple. You can read more about this by clicking on the wording at the bottom of each picture below.

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This year I had no plans and no time to make an Advent calendar so imagine my delight when we arrived home from Scotland last night to find this cute little surprise on our doormat from my sister in law.

I could have hugged her. Such a lovely surprise and a great start to the festive period.

Our Christmas will once again be a much simpler affair and although I cannot promise to blog every day I will certainly share all my makes and bakes as the Advent unfolds.

Let the countdown begin……..