Advent Calendar Tradition in the US
Published October 24, 2026 · GiveOwl
An advent calendar counts down the days to Christmas, usually with a little door or pocket for each day. In the United States it is a fairly recent import. This is what the Library of Congress says about it, and how to make a calendar of your own.
From Germany to American homes
- Advent: The Library of Congress describes Advent in Christian tradition as the period before the celebration of Christmas, and says there is debate about when it began, with claims for both the 5th and 6th centuries.
- German roots: German customs have heavily influenced how many people observe Advent today. By the 19th century German wreaths had a candle for each of the four Sundays before Christmas, and advent calendars followed, counting the days from December 1 to Christmas Eve.
- Printing: By the early 1900s German children had many calendars to choose from, partly because color printing (chromolithography) had made it cheap to mass-produce colorful paper products.
- After World War II: The Library says calendars became more familiar in the U.S. after the war, when American soldiers stationed in Germany sent them home. Newspapers in 1953 and 1954 felt they had to describe the calendar's look and function in full, a sign of how new it was to American readers.
- 1954: A charity, the National Epilepsy League, was using advent calendars for fundraising by 1954, and a photograph of President Eisenhower's grandchildren with their calendar was published on December 24, 1954.
- Today: The Library notes that calendars have grown more popular in recent years, and that there are now versions for adults and pets, and with beauty products, toys and food.
Advent calendars 2026
- Advent begins on Sunday, November 29, but most calendars start on Tuesday, December 1 and end on Thursday, December 24.
- Christmas Day is Friday, December 25.
Make your own advent calendar
Many families make their own, with small treats chosen for the person who will open them. A simple way to do it:
- Number 24 matching envelopes, paper bags or small boxes.
- Put something small in each: a handwritten note, a puzzle, a family task, or a homemade treat (see Christmas sugar cookies: recipe and cookie exchange tips for a cookie recipe).
- Hang them on string, tuck them in a drawer unit, or stack them in a box.
If you include food, think about allergies and expiration dates, and label anything with nuts clearly.
Online calendars and sweepstakes
Many brands open online advent calendars with a prize behind each door. We link to the organizer's own page, and you always enter there, never on GiveOwl: see Black Friday & 12 Days of Christmas giveaways 2026 and Christmas giveaways 2026 (US).
Prefer to give one?
Our page advent calendars to buy and the guide toy advent calendars for kids list calendars on Amazon.com (ad, affiliate links, no prices shown).
More traditions and the full list of dates: Christmas in the US: traditions and recipes.
