From 1 to 24 December, a variety of collection items associated with Christmas in New Zealand will feature on this page. This period is known to Christians as Advent, and, like an Advent calendar, a new image will appear every day.
Advent calendars developed from a 19th-century German Lutheran tradition of counting down the 24 days before Christmas. The first Advent calendar was made in 1851; the first printed version appeared in 1908.
Typically, Advent calendars consist of two pieces of card, with 24 'doors' cut into the top layer. One door is opened daily from 1 December through to Christmas Eve to reveal Christmas images or small gifts.
Make sure you check out the Collections Online Advent calendar regularly to see new objects, artworks, and icons related to Christmas in New Zealand revealed daily.