Four Sundays before Christmas (November 30, this year), many Christians begin to celebrate Advent. In some traditions, the season is a fast; in others, the generally festive pre-Christmas spirit intrudes. For all Christians, Advent is a time of expectation and longing.

Expectation and longing could be said to be behind the tradition of Advent calendars. In the early 1900s, Germans started printing calendars with little flaps to be opened each day until Christmas. Some advent calendars had little pictures; others had Bible verses.

This advent calendar is along similar lines, except that you won't be able to peek ahead. Each day of advent, we will add another image and passage about the meaning of Christ's incarnation.

Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9 | Day 10 | Day 11 | Day 12 | Day 13 | Day 14 | Day 15 | Day 16 | Day 17 | Day 18 | Day 19 | Day 20 | Day 21 | Day 22 | Day 23 | Day 24 | Day 25



Related Elsewhere:


For more articles about Advent, the Incarnation, and more, see our Christmas special section.

The Church of England has a video advent calendar.