It will soon be the first of December, when children and in more modern times adult chocoholics or anyone who loves chocolate, all around the world will be searching and eying up the first door of their Advent calendars, excited to see what image and chocolate, is hidden inside.

Whilst its true Christmas can be a magical time, and a great way to get us into the spirit and building anticipation by counting down the days with an advent calendar treat.

After all, there's nothing like a month full of mini treats to get you excited for the big event.

Today, the choices and options go beyond the classic chocolate filled (those are great, too), there are versions there to match most interests.

Brands now offer items like make up, socks, or toys, they are branded with cartoons or pop idles the whole family can enjoy, and even adult-only booze filled ones.

advent calendars can get us in the festive mood, they also help us to think of something that is to come. but have you ever wanted to know the real story?

The word “Advent” is from the Latin phrase adventus, “coming toward,” for Christians, it's seen as the time marking Christ’s return.

Monks first celebrated advent in AD567 fasting in the month before Christmas.

Advent In the Middle Ages started to herald the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, and act as a countdown to the birth of Christ.

The origin of the advent calendar

Originally, advent calendars were a just a nativity scene, in a box with a glass lid and ribbons and flowers with two dolls one representing Mary and the otherJesus.

The box was then taken door to door, it was thought to be bad luck if you hadn’t seen the nativity before Christmas Eve.

In 19th century German Lutherans  Would chalk marks on the doors from December 1st until the 24th so they knew where they had been.

When I was growing up you one way you knew it was coming up to Christmas because BBC’s TV show Blue Peter would show us how to make a advent crown, with candle, tinsel and coat hangers and then light each week – an advent crown. At the time I wondered why they did this: we just put up a Christmas tree, lights and if we remembered lit an advent candle or opened windows on our advent calendars (minus chocolate) churches today often have Advent wreaths made from a circle of intertwined evergreen branches, to symbolise never-ending life.

With five candles Four, which are typically red, are placed around the outside of the wreath, the fifth candle –traditionally white – placed in the middle of the wreath.

The four red candles represent each Sundays of Advent, and the fifth candle marks Christmas day.

Each Sunday one candle is lit so that during the last week before

Christmas all four red candles on the wreath twinkle with light.

The white candle is lit on December 25 – the day of Jesus Christ’s birth.