There's nothing better than coming downstairs at the start of December and opening the first door to your advent calendar to discover what's inside. In this blog, we will talk all about this joyous tradition. We’ll be going back in time to where it all began and discussing how the emergence of a whole new style of advent calendar has changed this tradition for the better.

The History of Advent Calendars

So how did this famous tradition get started? The first concept of advent calendars dates back to the 19th century in Germany, with the idea to simply mark the days leading up to Christmas.

They were originally religious, each day signifying a different character or event from the bible and developing a sense of anticipation and celebration towards the lead-up to Christmas. This helped alert those who weren't already familiar with this spirituality making it fun and exciting to learn about these events and characters each day.

In the 1950s, the introduction of chocolate-filled advent calendars became increasingly popular. Instead of images, each door had a delicious piece of chocolate, making the countdown to Christmas even sweeter.

At this point, advent calendars gained global popularity, and it was only up from there, as recent decades have witnessed a shift toward advent calendars filled with small toys, trinkets, and other surprises.

Whether you’re getting chocolate or toys, advent calendars always seem to have the same impact of excitement on children. Why is this?

Understanding the Psychology Behind Toy Advent Calendars

Knowing the significance and benefits of gifting advent calendars to your child is more straightforward than you might think. Firstly, it teaches the valuable lesson of patience, as the daily restraint from opening all the doors at once helps them to understand the rewards of waiting for something. This can then benefit them later in life.

Advent calendars also tie into the learning curve of getting your child into a routine. The routine of opening a door on the advent calendar each day creates a comforting and familiar daily ritual. This ritualistic behaviour can plant a sense of structure and order during a time of year that may be filled with various activities and events.

Understanding the psychology behind toy advent calendars reveals how these festive traditions contribute to future well-being and positive associations with the holiday season and daily life.

Why Toy Advent Calendars Are Brilliant Gifts

Giving your child or a loved one the gift of an advent calendar this Christmas can help build anticipation for the holiday, and here at Maqio Toys, we have a large selection of advent calendars available. Our range has something for everyone, whether they would love getting a new clothing item each day for Barbie, or seeing a brand new Hot Wheels car behind each door, our wide choice will be sure to have something for them. 

Here at Maqio, we are proud to help you bring the magic of Christmas home with you.