Nordic Christmas calendar facts for kids
A Christmas calendar is a special kind of TV or radio show that helps you count down to Christmas! It's like an Advent calendar, but instead of opening a small door, you get to watch a new episode every day.
These shows are very popular in Nordic countries like Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, and Iceland. The idea first started in Sweden in 1957 with a radio series called Barnens adventskalender.
Contents
How Christmas Calendars Work
Each Christmas calendar series has 24 episodes. They start on December 1st and air daily, ending on Christmas Eve. This means you get a new story or adventure every day leading up to Christmas!
The very first TV Christmas calendar was the Swedish show Titteliture. Denmark's first show like this was Historier fra hele verden in 1962. Over time, this fun tradition spread to other Nordic countries and even to Germany in the 21st century.
Who Watches Christmas Calendars?
Most Christmas calendar shows are made for kids. However, some are enjoyed by both children and adults. There are even a few shows made just for grown-ups!
Many of these series have become true classics in their countries. For example, the 1979 Norwegian show Jul i Skomakergata and the 1990 Icelandic show Á baðkari til Betlehem are loved by many. People often watch them year after year, sometimes just for the happy memories!
Fun Characters in the Shows
You'll often see special characters in Christmas calendar shows. Many feature "tomter or nisser". These are small, mythical creatures from Nordic folklore, often linked to Christmas. Sometimes, you might even see a Santa Claus figure in the stories!
See also
- Nisse
- Pyrus Series
- Santa Claus
