Santa Christmas German Advent Calendar This new paper calendar is about 8.25 Inch by 11.5. The detailed picture has 24 little doors to open. Each door has a little picture behind it. The tradition is to open one door each day from December 1 thru December 24. Children love to open a door a day as they count down to Christmas. The tradition of the advent calendar dates back to 1851 in the Protestant parts of Germany. The first advent calendar with little doors was printed in the early 1900's and continues today.