How it all began for Christmas traditions

We all have our favourite Christmas traditions, but do you know how they started? We did some digging on 12 festive essentials.

Advent calendars date back to Germany in the mid-1900s when Protestants made chalk marks on doors or lit candles in order to count down to Christmas.

Legend has it that the first advent calendar, made in Germany, was a piece of cardboard with 24 sweets stuck on it.

The first chocolate calendar appeared in 1958 and Cadbury introduced them to the UK in 1971.

One fable tells that a choirmaster in Cologne gave sugar sticks to children in 1670 to help them survive a lengthy nativity service.

Others suggest that their hook shape resembles a shepherd’s staff, their J-shape reminds us of Jesus and their red and white colouring represents his purity and blood.

The Christingle tradition began in 1747 in (you’ve guessed it) Germany when children were given a candle with a red ribbon round it to represent Jesus being the light of the world.

The first Christingle service in the UK was held in 1968.

Modern additions include oranges to represent the world, four sticks to signify north, south, east and west or the four seasons, and fruits, nuts or sweets.

… story continues