Advent calendars 2005

December 1, 2005 11:12 AM

Advent calendars 2005.Back when the internets were very young, people began combining a wonderful old holiday tradition, the Advent calendar, with the latest in communications, the internet, and thus it was that interactive Advent calendars were born. This one (requires Flash) was the first one I ever saw and here are some other of my favorites: Leslie Harpold's and Tibi and Beens. Want more? Check Google.
posted by Lynsey (13 comments total)

i still have my chocolate filled advent calendar....think i'll stick with it *munches*
posted by lemonfridge at 11:23 AM on December 1, 2005

I always enjoyed my grandmother's Advent calendars as a kid. So this year I bought a Lego Advent calendar.
posted by Fat Guy at 11:35 AM on December 1, 2005

Booo. You're supposed to say "traditional annual advent calendar post".

j/k
posted by nthdegx at 11:36 AM on December 1, 2005

When you're Googling, don't forget to use some of your favorite stuff as search terms along with "Advent calendar."

Because there are strange, strange people out there who will make Advent calendars for anything. Including safe-for-work photomanips of an unpopular pairing from an interesting, but not-incredibly-popular, TV show.
posted by booksandlibretti at 11:39 AM on December 1, 2005

Careful with those chocolate calendars that have aged a bit...I recently sampled "chocolate with weevils" (I think it was the 1st of the month's selection, if that matters).
posted by artifarce at 11:54 AM on December 1, 2005

Metafilter: Want more? Check Google.
posted by Elpoca at 12:00 PM on December 1, 2005

I am not going to harsh on this post. Advent calendars are a great seasonal tradition, and I don't think they came even close to their full potential until the Web came around. Because of their emphasis on content, they embody what for me is an important element of the season -- serendipity. As in openness to surprise, delight, and things hitherto unknown to us. December lets us all kick off the traces a bit, and "something new every day" is a good head start on that.

Great tip, booksandlibretti. Using it, I have already located an NYC calendar, as well as this odd and interesting Soul Food Silk Road Advent Calendar. Wonder what else is out there.
posted by Miko at 12:16 PM on December 1, 2005

Oh I so love advent calendars, traditional and online. The online calendars that don't allow "cheating" (opening doors before it's actually the date) however, only remind me how far, far away from home I am this Christmas. In Fiji, it's already December 2nd!
posted by dipolemoment at 1:32 PM on December 1, 2005

The Q-Creative Advent Calendar (First Link) started out with the greeting "Happy Holidays"

Lynsey - Why do you hate Christmas? Bill O'Reilly wants to know.
posted by Sk4n at 2:08 PM on December 1, 2005

Sk4n: even in a strictly Christian tradition, December and January present more than one holiday. There are several feast days, there is Advent, and there is Epiphany. Many Christians also celebrate New Year's Day. So there's really no inconsistency in wishing "Happy Holidays" with an Advent calendar.
posted by Miko at 6:13 PM on December 1, 2005

Self link to a blog post with a photo of a giant advent calendar. Second photo (and others) in the post - the Vienna Rathaus (city hall) is turned into a giant advent calendar every Christmas season.
posted by syzygy at 6:19 PM on December 1, 2005

Thanks, Miko and syzygy!
posted by Lynsey at 9:23 PM on December 1, 2005

I just dropped my Barbie advent chocolate under the desk. It is truly an unjust world.
posted by biffa at 4:22 AM on December 2, 2005