24 little days until Christmas!

Well boys and girls, it’s the 1st December, at last! That means that the countdown to Christmas officially starts now! Here at the Oakeley Arms Hotel in the heart of Snwdonia we’re pretty excited about the festive season – the decs are up, the lights are on and the shopping list’s done (if not the actual shopping…..).

1st December is the day when many people believe the Christmas celebrations can begin in earnest, with only 24 little days left to the big one. And of course, it’s the day when you can officially open that big chocolate advent calendar (never mind that it was unofficially opened a week ago and all the little doors carefully sealed shut again….!).

Millions of advent calendars will be sold across the world this week, in preparation for the first opening tomorrow, but just where does the tradition come from? Why do we take such delight and gleeful anticipation in a colourful cardboard decoration with mini windows cut out?

It’s thought that the tradition began with a group of religious Germans called the Lutherans, as far back as the early 1800s. They would count down the first 24 days of December, either by making a chalk mark on the wall, lighting a candle or drawing a different religious picture every day. By the early 1930’s, the printed advent calendar was born, and featured 24 little “windows”, each showing a different festive scene, to be opened every day in the run up to Christmas Day.

These days, advent calendars are not just about pretty pictures behind the windows – there are a whole array of advent treats, from chocolate to sweets to Christmas trinkets.

image by mommyof9 at sxc.hu

So what do you like in your advent calendar? Good old chocolate, or just a pretty picture? Here at the Oakeley Arms, we know what we like in ours – and that’s lots and lots of CHOCOLATE!!

Happy advent calendar day, and if you’re in any doubt about how many days there are to Christmas, then here’s where to find out!!

http://www.xmasclock.com/