24 Days of Martin – Day 1: Advent Calendars & Letters to Santa

Advent Calendars

Martin wanted to create an Advent Calendar-style post called “24 Days of Martin” for the holiday season this year.

After much research, Martin learned “Advent” comes from Latin “adventus” meaning “coming” or “arrival” – referring to the coming of Christ.  So an Advent Calendar means the Coming of Christ.   Advent was first practiced in Germany by German Protestants.  They began the tradition by marking a chalk line on their front door for the passing of each day from Dec 1 thru Dec 24.  They also lit a new candle each evening and hung new religious pictures on their walls each morning.

Advent calendars have been used since 1902 or 1903 to count down the days of the coming of Christ, otherwise known as: Christmas.

The first printed Advent calendars appeared in Germany.  Gerhard Lang’s mother made homemade calendars with 24 small candies. He based the mass-production of Advent calendars on her original calendars.  Each calendar consisted of a large panel with 24 small numbered windows or doors.  Each door/window has a number from 1 to 24.  Each little door/window can be opened to hide a toy or treat surprise.  These calendars were created to build excitement and anticipation for the arrival of Christmas.  Traditional calendars count down the days of Advent, Dec 1 thru Dec 24.  Some calendars include a special treat for Dec 25.

The tradition of Advent Calendars spread globally after WWII as the soldiers returned home from war.  American Soldier Richard Sellmer brought the idea back to the US in the 1950s.  This is is also when the calendars began to offer small chocolate treats behind their door/windows.

Today, Advent calendars come in all shapes and sizes, beauty calendars with a lipstick, blush or other make up for each day, LEGO calendars with a small Lego toy each day, snack calendars with gourmet snacks for each day.  There are advent calendar themes for hobbies, crafts, foods, drinks; calendars created especially for adults, teens, children, and even snack filled calendars for our pets!

Letters to Santa

While researching Advent, Martin  stumbled on several articles which contained the history of Advent and several other Christmas traditions.  One tradition he also wanted to participate in was mailing a letter to Santa.  The tradition of writing letters to Santa begins as literacy rates start growing.  In early European countries where children would write letters to St. Nicholas (St. Nick), Christkind (Christ Child), Father Christmas, and Weihnachtsmann, depending on the which Country the children lived.  Early letters were sent up chimneys by being burned and the rising  smoke carrying the children’s wishes to their Santa.

In the early 1900’s, postal systems  became more developed around the world, and children began mailing their letters.  At first, post offices considered letters addressed to Santa undeliverable. However, many postmasters and postal workers were kind.  They realized the magic of letters to Santa and began secretly reading and responding to the letters, often using their own funds or community donations to fulfill some of the wishes.

In 1912, the United States Postal Service began “Operation Santa”.  This program lets people “adopt” letters and fulfill the wishes for the family.

Canada Post, the Canadian postal service, has replied to letters to Santa since 1974.  Santa even has his own postal code: H0H 0H0.

Finland hosts the official Santa Claus Main Post Office in Rovaniemi.  The receive over 500,000 letters each year from over 200 countries.

Traditionally, when children write letters to Santa, they include if they have been “naughty or nice”, list the gifts they would like, perhaps include some news of their life from the past year, ask questions about life in the North Pole, and draw images of elves, presents, and reindeer.

🦌 🎁 🎄 🍪 🎅

24 Days of Martin – Day 1: Letters to Santa

Martin found this cute mailbox for letters to Santa at Home Depot a few weeks ago.

He thought December 1st would be the best day to mail his letter, since that way Santa would have the whole month to receive it.  He did not know December 6th is often unofficially designated as “Mail a Letter to Santa Day.”  Martin’s letter stated that he had been very good this year.  He had only started 3 fires with his sneezes, 2 fires with his burps, and 1 fire with his hiccups.  Martin promised he had been working out so he could develop his wing muscles so he could maybe fly next year.  Martin’s Christmas list included a journal book so he could make notes while out on adventures, a second carabiner so he could attach more items to his backpack, and a new pretty planter for his live Christmas tree until it was big enough to plant outside.  Martin made sure to let Santa know there would be cookies and milk, and hoped Chocolate Chip were his favorite kind.   He promised Santa there would be carrots and water for the Reindeer, and some batteries in case Rudolph needed them for his nose.  He hope Santa wouldn’t be too tired after visiting everyone in one night.  And asked Santa to give Mrs. Claus a hug for him.

What did you write in your letter to Santa this year?