What Is an Advent Calendar?
An Advent calendar is a special calendar used to count the days leading up to Christmas, usually beginning December 1 and ending on Christmas Eve. Each day contains a small door, window, or pocket that reveals a treat, verse, message, or symbolic surprise. Historically, the Advent calendar helped Christians reflect on the meaning of Advent, the season that remembers the first coming of Christ and looks ahead to his return. In modern practice, an Advent calendar can be religious or secular, but the original purpose remains significant: training the heart to anticipate the fulfillment of God’s promises.
The word Advent comes from the Latin adventus, meaning “coming.” Earlier Christians regularly spoke of “the advent of our Lord” and also of “his second advent.” Scripture holds these two together: the incarnation in Bethlehem (John 1:14; Luke 2:10–11) and the promise that the same Christ will come again to judge and renew all things (Acts 1:11; Rev. 22:20). The Advent calendar arose as one way to mark this season of expectation with daily practices that point toward both the birth of Jesus and the hope of the world made new.
Origins of the Advent Calendar and Why It Developed
According to historical accounts, the first modern Advent calendars appeared in Germany in the early twentieth century. A mother reportedly crafted 24 small pictures for her son to mark each December day, a simple household tradition that later inspired printed calendars with cardboard doors. By the 1920s, the format spread broadly, offering families a daily ritual that encouraged meditation on Christ’s coming. By the 1950s, chocolate was added to many Advent calendars, shaping the familiar custom seen today.
These practices reflect earlier Christian rhythms. Some churches observed Advent as early as the late fourth century. At first, Advent was a season of fasting rather than feasting. Sermons highlighted the wonder of the incarnation (John 1:1–5; Phil. 2:6–8), while also calling God’s people to repentance as they anticipated the return of Christ (Matt. 24:42–44). By the Middle Ages, four Sundays became the standard length of Advent, and the season marked the beginning of the church year.
The Advent calendar was not a medieval invention, yet its purpose echoes that older discipline: pause daily, remember God’s promises, and set hope on Christ. In this sense, an Advent calendar works as a miniature catechism of waiting, reminding Christians that God fulfills his word faithfully (Isa. 9:6–7; Gal. 4:4–5).
What an Advent Calendar Is Used For Today
In its traditional sense, an Advent calendar encourages daily reflection leading to Christmas. A Christian Advent calendar usually includes:
A Bible verse about Christ’s birth or God’s promises (Isa. 7:14; Mic. 5:2).
A short reading related to hope, faith, or redemption.
A small prayer prompt for families or individuals.
A symbolic picture, such as a star, manger, shepherd, or crown.
Many families treat an Advent calendar as a devotional tool. Each door opened is a reminder that God’s plan unfolds day by day until the arrival of Christ. In the biblical story, God’s people waited centuries for the promised Messiah (Gen. 3:15; 2 Sam. 7:12–13; Isa. 40:1–5). An Advent calendar reenacts this waiting in miniature form, teaching children and adults how to wait with expectation and hope.
Today, there are also secular Advent calendars. These may contain small gifts such as toys, makeup, gourmet coffee, or collectibles. While fun, they do not usually carry theological meaning. Still, even these show the deep cultural instinct to mark time with anticipation—an echo of the older Christian pattern.
What the Bible Says About Waiting and Why It Matters for Advent
Although the Bible does not mention an Advent calendar directly, Scripture consistently highlights the call to wait for God’s salvation. Advent themes are rooted in that biblical pattern.
1. God teaches His people to wait for His promises
The Old Testament shows Israel waiting for rescue and looking for the King who would make all things right (Isa. 11:1–5; Ps. 130:5–6). The Advent calendar reflects this same posture. Each day builds expectation for the celebration of Christ’s birth, which fulfills the ancient promises. When used well, an Advent calendar trains Christians to slow down and remember that salvation unfolds according to God’s timing (Hab. 2:3).
2. The coming of Christ shapes daily life
Advent is about both the incarnation and the future appearing of Jesus (Titus 2:11–13). An Advent calendar can turn the eyes of believers toward the announcement that “the true light… was coming into the world” (John 1:9), while also reminding them that Christ will come again to judge the living and the dead (2 Tim. 4:1). This dual focus shapes holy living, calling Christians to be sober-minded, hopeful, and attentive (1 Thess. 5:1–11).
3. Anticipation belongs to the Christian life
The Advent calendar is a tool for cultivating anticipation rooted in the Gospel. Scripture teaches that Christians live between the first and second comings of Jesus. They have received forgiveness, adoption, and the Spirit (Rom. 8:14–17), yet they still await the fullness of renewed creation (Rom. 8:18–25). Advent practices—including an Advent calendar—acknowledge this already-and-not-yet reality.
The Spiritual Purpose of an Advent Calendar for Christians
When treated as more than a seasonal accessory, an Advent calendar becomes a simple form of discipleship. It can form the heart in several ways:
Daily reflection: Short readings or verses help redirect attention from consumerism toward Christ.
Family discipleship: Parents can use an Advent calendar to teach children about the birth of Jesus, the promises of God, and the hope of the world to come.
Practicing expectancy: Opening each day’s window recreates the long arc of biblical expectation, reminding believers that God works through time.
Renewing spiritual attentiveness: Advent can realign the Christian imagination with the Gospel story, particularly the themes of waiting, fulfillment, and the coming kingdom of God.
In this way, the Advent calendar becomes more than a countdown. It becomes a pattern of hope. For Christians, every small door opened points toward the larger truth: God keeps His promises, and Christ’s coming inaugurates the new creation. The anticipation built through an Advent calendar mirrors the broader longing for the day when Christ will make all things new (Rev. 21:1–5).
How Christians Can Use an Advent Calendar with Biblical Intent
Because Advent calendars vary widely, Christians can choose one that fits their spiritual goals. A few suggestions include:
1. Choose Scripture-focused content
Use an Advent calendar that includes Bible passages about Christ’s birth, the promises to Israel, and the hope of Christ’s return.
2. Integrate prayer
Each day can include a short prayer of thanksgiving, confession, or longing for Christ’s kingdom.
3. Discuss the meaning with children
Explain how God’s people waited centuries for the Messiah and how Christians now wait for his appearing. This connects daily practice to the whole sweep of Scripture.
4. Resist cultural hurry
The Advent calendar can help slow the season down. Instead of rushing toward December 25, the countdown becomes a discipline of reflection.
5. Connect the calendar to worship
Use the Advent calendar alongside the lighting of Advent candles, weekly readings, or family worship time.
This approach keeps the Advent calendar aligned with the biblical story rather than merely serving as another seasonal decoration.
Bible Verses about Advent
“For to us a child is born…” (Isaiah 9:6–7)
“The people who walked in darkness…” (Isaiah 9:2)
“But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah…” (Micah 5:2)
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive…” (Isaiah 7:14)
“In the beginning was the Word…” (John 1:1–5)
“And the Word became flesh…” (John 1:14)
“The true light, which gives light…” (John 1:9)
“Glory to God in the highest…” (Luke 2:14)
“Christ, who gave himself for us…” (Titus 2:11–13)
“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon.’” (Revelation 22:20)
