Wooden Advent Calendar

Wooden Advent calendars have been used for over 200 years in European countries to celebrate the lead up to Christmas.  The Sihlalo calendars have small drawers that can be filled each year with small presents and treats, ready for the first drawer to be opened on December 1st.  The Sihlalo calendar drawers can be pre-decorated for your family, or be purchased ‘blank’ for families to decorate themselves.  There is also a version of the Sihlalo calendar which has double opening drawers.  On one side is the Advent calendar for use every December.  By turning the calendar around and using it for the rest of the year, the other side of the drawers can be decorated with alphabet letters so that children can learn to read and write by hiding items in the drawers that start with that letter. Sihlalo calendars have either 25 days for Advent (December 1-25) or 26 days for those families who have a December birthday.  The birthday drawer can be filled with a special treat for the birthday person, so that their birthday isn’t lost in the Christmas excitement.