December is a month full of preparations, celebrations and moments that invite us to get together with family and friends. This is the time when we dust off traditional recipes, decorate the house with lights and decorations, and sometimes we take refuge at home under the skirts of a brazier, enjoying the warmth of the house. Between board games, family anecdotes and shared laughter, there is a tradition that young and old alike look forward to: the Advent calendar. This little countdown, which marks the days from December 1 to 24, anticipates the arrival of Christmas.
The Advent calendar has its origins in 19th century Protestant Germany, as children lit a candle daily during this period until Christmas Eve, marking a countdown in a secular way. It was in 1920 that the first Advent calendar with chocolate bars was printed, with the aim of softening the wait of the little ones. Since then, it has become a symbol of the Christmas period, present in many homes around the world.
Nowadays, the most common calendars found in stores take on shapes characteristic of that era, small Christmas trees, gingerbread houses or candy canes. Each numbered window hides a treat or chocolate, continuing the tradition. However, creativity has given rise to Advent calendars containing books, perfumes, toys, beauty products or even foods or gastronomic experiences.
Additionally, many choose to create their own calendar, making this activity an opportunity to spend time with family and encourage imagination. Creating a homemade Advent calendar can be as simple as arranging rolls of paper in the shape of a Christmas tree and incorporating gifts inside, such as small numbered boxes, decorated bags or a board with envelopes. If you want to create a calendar for the little ones, it is not strongly recommended that it be made of sweets, candies or chocolate, however, there are alternatives so that they can enjoy this tradition.
Homemade alternatives
A good idea is to combine different ingredients in the schedule. For example, certain days (one, three, four, seven, new, ten and thirteen) may contain seasonal fruits or nuts, which can be eaten plain or transformed into delicious recipes. For example, orange and tangerine, with which you can make juice. Or the apple, with which you can prepare a cake. Pomegranate can be yogurt and pomegranate mousse or gelatin. Chestnuts, typical of this season, can be an invitation to spend a little time roasting them and then eating them at home. Persimmon, a fruit that ripens in December, can be eaten with yogurt and almonds. Dates, which can be combined with cheese or other ingredients. And finally a bag containing twelve grapes, recalling the tradition of New Year’s Eve.
To alternate, the rest of the days (two, five, nine, sixteen, twenty-one and twenty-three) can be allocated to ingredients with a card for preparing homemade pastries: pumpkin cake, carrot cake, fruit muffins, oatmeal cookies with banana and apple, or shortbread cookies with walnuts and cookies with raisins and cranberries. Another alternative is to make Christmas-themed recipes, such as gingerbread cookies or a portion of strawberry and cream cake that simulates Santa’s hat.
We continue with days four, six, eight, fourteen, fifteen, twenty-two and twenty-four, in which you can include seasonal vegetables such as beets, sweet potatoes, eggplants, chard or artichokes, which can be incorporated into creams, purees or salads or baked, creating a menu that provides color and nutrients. In addition to snacks salty like sticks or mini biscuits in fun shapes. In this way, the Advent calendar becomes a tool to teach children to eat healthily, without losing the enthusiasm for this activity.
Finally, days eleven, twelve, seventeen, nineteen and twenty can be reserved for hot drinks to accompany the winter afternoons. You can choose the favorite drinks of the little ones in the house or play a little with the flavors and colors of certain ingredients. The most typical drink is hot chocolate, but you can also prepare a fruit punch that is enjoyed hot or cold with fruits like apple, pineapple and orange accompanied by spices. Enjoy fruit infusions or plant-based milks like oatmeal and almond flakes.
The Advent calendar is an invitation to experience shared flavors and moments every day. From sweets and fruits to homemade recipes and hot drinks, each window can become an experience combining surprise and emotion.
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