Today's Advent calendar is a work of art... Literally.
For the past 40 years, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, or The Met, have decorated a 20 foot tall blue spruce with dozens of 18th century ceramic angels adorn in silken robes. The cherubs take flight above a 360-degree nativity scene that depicts the birth of Christ, the arrival of the Magi and other key moments retold from the first few chapters of the Book of Luke.
Now visitors to The Met who have become enamored with the tree and its Neapolitan Baroque Creche can bring the awe inspiring decoration home in the form of a 3-D card stock Advent calendar.
When you unfold the piece, it takes the shape of the tree and the nativity scenes depicted on all sides; a full 360 degrees. But where are the angels? Throughout the tree are numbered die-cut flaps that when flipped open reveal one of the heavenly hosts . By the time you get to December 24th, your tree will look like a miniature version of the real McCoy!
Advents like this are just as fun as the ones where you have no clue as to what's inside, even though you know what you are getting! And why is that? I think it's because it builds on a tradition. People all over the world have fallen in love with The Met's tree. Yet not everyone can make the trip to New York City during the holidays. These kind of Advents share the experience and makes lasting memories which is more important than some daily trinket that more than likely has zero real user value other than their novelty. This calendar is something that children and grandkids and great grandchildren can share with their parents and loved ones while spreading appreciation of the fine arts and making memories in the process.
