Who invented Advent calendars?

The Advent calendar was first printed by Gerhard Lang in the early 1900s. The tradition of counting down the days of Advent began in Germany in the 19th century. Lang based his printed calendar on a version that his mother had made for him.

Protestants in the Germany would make chalk marks or light candles to denote the days leading up to Christmas. They would begin this tradition four weeks before Christmas, the traditional period called Advent. Most Advent calendars today, however, begin on December 1. While currently Advent is considered the lead up to the birth of Jesus Christ, the period originally signified the countdown until Baptism for those converting to Christianity.