In German Christmas tradition, what type of calendar counts down the days until Christmas?

In German Christmas tradition, the calendar that counts down the days until Christmas is the Advent calendar.

Advent calendars usually have 24 numbered doors, windows, or compartments, corresponding to the days from 1 December through Christmas Eve. Behind them may be pictures, sweets, small gifts, or religious messages. Modern versions range from handmade cardboard designs to elaborate luxury products.

The custom developed in German-speaking communities in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Early forms included marking days with chalk or hanging small pictures, while printed calendars became commercially popular later.

The number 24 is traditional because the calendar usually ends on 24 December rather than Christmas Day. Some modern calendars include a 25th compartment, but that is an adaptation rather than the standard historical format.