The countdown to Christmas has begun. We are now on day seven of the beloved Advent Calendars and only another 17 exciting mornings to go. This year, I gave in to the childrens’ continuous requests for a chocolate calendar.
They could barely contain themselves in the days leading up to the 1st of December. They shrieked with excitement when they came down for breakfast to find their Advent Calendars on the kitchen table ready for the ceremonial opening of the first door. As a mother of three twittering starlings, I have to pay tribute to the Advent Calendar. Over the past few days, the children have been up promptly, dressed in record time and even cleaned their cereal bowls of each and every remaining Rice Crispie. They sit perfectly still and quiet, as I take the calendars down from the top shelf of the dresser. Woe betide any small hands or the paws of a passing border terrorist opening a door early. They excitedly search for the number and their little fingers work frantically at the small door, desperate for the sight of the small brown chocolate shape. My son struggles with his small blunt nails, trying to shift the chocolate from its plastic nest. Then, there is the excitement of working out what the shape is and the further excitement of the Nativity picture behind. The Advent Calendar also works as quite a useful bribery tool in our house. Last Sunday, we all braved church once more and sat at the back, desperately trying not to distract the rest of the congregation with our brood. When my son began building a tower out of kneelers and then knocking them down, much to The Baby’s utter delight, I was able to hiss at him, “If you continue with that, you will not have your advent calendar tomorrow morning.” With that, he promptly sat bolt upright on his chair, his hands neatly on his lap staring straight ahead of him.
The Advent Calendar, with or without chocolates, is a marvellous tradition. It helps the children enjoy the anticipation of the coming of Christmas rather than just one solitary day. With any luck, some of the pictures or chocolate shapes behind the 24 doors remind them about the meaning of Christmas. And just as the build-up of Father Christmas gets children to reflect on their behaviour, perhaps the advent calendar does the same. There are more than one million advent calendars sold each year around the world, so I hope there are many more families like us enjoying a December of more well-behaved, albeit very excited children.
