RSS Advent-ures
Filed in Thinking Out LoudOn the first of December I got my first mail here at the RV park. I received a 2008 Scotland calendar and an Advent calendar. I’ve had one of those every year for as long as I can recall.
I was quite pleased when, a couple of years ago, I discovered Advent calendars in the USA. That is, until I opened my first window and discovered no picture. What is the use of an Advent calendar with just text?
If you don’t know what the heck I’m talking about, effectively what you have is a holiday scene with little cut-out windows, each numbered for one of the first 24 days in December, which you open on the appointed day. Behind each window is a picture of something like a gift or a bit of Christmas food. Some are orderly, with the windows laid out in rows and the numbers added consecutively; I prefer the higgledy-piggledy ones where the windows are hidden in the scene (and often behind bits of glitter, too).
When I was small, I was so excited about the prospect of this amazing thing that I would sneak a look at the windows before the appointed day. It seemed like the height of naughtiness to peek. (It never occurred to me to go looking for the actual presents, though.)
And oddly, much as I love chocolate, I never liked the chocolate ones that much. What was left behind was always a hollow clear plastic shape, and I liked the pictures better. Picky little toot, ain’t I?
Advent calendars are such a fundamental part of the season for me that I can’t imagine not having one. I’m 37 and my parents still send me one every year. I think my cousins stopped getting theirs when they were about 18. ;)
Th’s year’s calendar has a snow scene with all the kids skiing and sledging and Santa in the middle. It’s busy and pretty and the boxes are scattered all over the place and hence, it is perfect.
So, for all you Americans who can’t get real ones, with pictures instead of text, I’m so sorry, but mine is better than yours. :-P
Happy Holidays.
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6 Comments, Comment or Ping
Buffra
Hm….We have some with pictures. I’m sure of it. You just had a faulty one, that’s all!
Dec 3rd, 2007
J. Lynne (35 comments.)
We had one when I was a kid, but we reused it every year. It was a picture of a big house or something and all of the cut-outs were doors and windows and hidden spots that when you opened them you got to peek inside little bits of the house and see all sorts of animal creatures living in the house — baby mice being tucked into bed by the mommy mouse, bunnies decorating a tree, etc. I guess it was kind of Beatrix Potter.
Dec 4th, 2007
pussreboots (158 comments.)
Trader Joe’s makes chocolate ones with pictures behind. So when you’re done you still have the pictures. They’re done in random order too. I have two of them this year (one per kid).
Dec 4th, 2007
Linda R. Moore
Buffra: Must’ve been three faulty ones then. I got a bit carried away that year. ;)
Dec 5th, 2007
Linda R. Moore
Lynne: neat! I know my Mam has a reusable one. I kinda like the ones in Starbuck’s with the little drawers, too, but I’m a sucker for little drawers. I still didn’t want to pay $10 for it though. ;)
How are you feeling?
Dec 5th, 2007
Linda R. Moore
* grin * I should’ve known that Trader Joe’s would know how to do things right.
I don’t think there’s one anywhere near Lodi, though. Must check.
Dec 5th, 2007
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