Nostalgia - Advent calendar

I didn't manage to do an advent calendar on the blog last year and there won't be one this year either, but like last year I'll be trying to stick to Christmassy themes in the posts that I will have.
What would be better to start with than the history of the advent calendar?

I already wrote about that in 2010, but I think it won't hurt to go into again.
The idea of an advent calendar first emerged in the 19th century, but not in printed form. People made chalk marks on the door and children cleaned one off every day or they hung a religious picture on the wall every day.
There are other ways to count down, like Wichern's advent wreath which had 24 candles instead of just four like today or advent candles like this one.

There are different opinions on when the first printed calendar came out, 1902 or 1903. 
Anyhow, they didn't look like the ones we know today yet. They were from cardboard on which children glued little pictures.

The ones we know, with the pictures behind little doors, came up after 1920. At first, the calenders often showed a village, town or forest in the snow. My first one, which I used for several years until the cardboard doors had really suffered and didn't want to stay closed anymore, had a forest scene with critters and of course glitter. Glitter was a part of Christmas. The door for the 24th was a double one which I thought was fabulous.
I got such a calendar again as a grown-up and used it for several years, but sadly it got lost or I might still be using it now.

The ever popular chocolate filled calendar came out in 1958 for the first time. I had one or the other of those, such as my Discworld calendars.

Nowadays, advent calendars come in all kinds of shapes, with pralines, toys, vouchers, even jewelry!
They come as puzzle and adventure books, audiobooks with a story for each day, as online calendars or on the radio. I admit not having given up hope yet to win something from my favorite online calendar which has a giveaway for every day.
I also love my Jacquie Lawson online advent calendars and am looking forward to the one for this year which is a Christmas village. I'm not affiliated with them in any way, I just love them for the mood.
And of course I got handmade advent calendars and I made them myself (never a hand sewn one because I was allowed to quit the optional craft class in school before I had to learn how to make one of those).

This year I decided to go classic and vintage inspired by getting this calendar.
I usually avoid buying new things with glitter, but hadn't even noticed it had glitter when I ordered it. Also, for an advent calendar - I admit I was surprised in a good way, and of course I don't plan to throw it away at the end of the year, but keep using it.

Oldies but Goodies - Downton Abbey

I don't go to the cinema a lot anymore. One reason is that I like to watch my movies in small groups or even alone, in the comfort of my home where I can put up my feet like I want to, where I don't have to deal with the tall people always sitting right in front of me, where no one shines the light from their cell phone onto the screen thinking it's funny. Okay, I am exaggerating, but even if that doesn't always happen, it does from time to time.
Of course seeing a movie at the cinema is different, there's the big screen, and depending on the audience and its reactions there can be the perfect mood.
A little over a week ago I spontaneously went to the cinema right after work. There was just one little problem. It was the early afternoon showing and I was by myself, but was told they have a two person minimum. Why didn't I wait, maybe someone else would turn up. Somehow the parent and kids groups that did turn up didn't want to see Downton Abbey. What a surprise. I finally went to the guy behind the counter, not to complain, but to ask what the difference between one and two persons was for a movie showing, and he pointed at his boss who happened to sit there. I'll cut it short, in the end I was so lucky to sit in this big room all by myself (and it had been a polite conversation, I assure you, I'm not a fan of pushy people myself), and it was a very special experience.

Today's Jewelry Artisans Community Oldies but Goodies Challenge asked for pieces that were inspired by the era of Downton Abbey.
Please keep in mind that our rules are quite stretchy. For example I don't remember having seen a Flapper dancing the Charleston at Downton Abbey, but both of them belong in the era. No one entered a diamond tiara inspired by those Maggie Smith wore (I wonder why ;-)). Nevertheless I can't imagine you won't like what you see.

1 Cat's Wire
2 CymberRain
3 The Crafty Chimp
4 Ganison Atelier
5 Jewelry Art by Dawn
6 RioRita
7 Bijou Bead Boutique