Are Advent Calendar Windows Making a Comeback? What this Age-Old Tradition is and How to Bring it to Life
People are embracing a return to nostalgic, traditional Christmas traditions, and it’s bringing festive magic back to our homes and streets. The Advent Calendar Window – an age-old community tradition – is making a major comeback this year, and interiors experts say it’s the perfect blend of creativity, nostalgia, and neighbourhood cheer. “It’s a simple but community-driven way to bring people together at Christmas”, says Steven Dempsey, Style Consultant at Shutterly Fabulous. “At a time when many of us spend so much of our lives online, this idea encourages people to be present during the festive season – it’s all about connection, creativity, and a shared sense of joy.”
What is an Advent calendar window?
Think of it as a living, life-size advent calendar, but instead of opening cardboard doors, 24 homes on a street each decorate one of their windows. Every night from December 1st to 24th, a new ‘window’ of a different home is unveiled, revealing designs from twinkling stars to hand-cut silhouettes and glittering Christmas scenes.
The tradition has seen a quiet resurgence in recent years, particularly among communities seeking to create festive excitement for children, older residents, and those looking for a more mindful, nostalgic return to Christmas traditions.
Expert tips on how to decorate your Advent calendar window
If you’re keen to encourage your street to take part, or just want to bring some extra Christmas spirit to your neighbourhood, follow these stylish yet easy tips from Steven Dempsey to create your own design:
- Keep it mark-free: “Use removable adhesives like double-sided clear tape or white tack to fix decorations without leaving marks, so you can remove them easily in January.”
- Go for glow: “Use transparent materials like black card or tracing paper to create festive silhouettes. Backlight your display so the design glows beautifully from the outside and creates a lantern effect.”
- Channel the effect of stained-glass: “Try coloured tissue paper for a stained-glass effect and jewel tones; it looks intricate but it’s surprisingly simple to make.”
- Sketch with snow: “Use chalk pens or fake snow spray to draw festive motifs directly on the glass, like snowflakes, trees, stars, and they wipe away easily afterwards.”
- Add sparkle: “Layer fairy lights to add warmth and twinkle behind your design.
- Play with height: “Hang ornaments such as baubles or paper stars using suction cups or clear thread for a floating effect.”