Discover the magic: Advent calendar exhibition in Elmshorn!

Discover the magic: Advent calendar exhibition in Elmshorn!

The pre-Christmas season also has its special charm in Elmshorn, and this year it will be highlighted by a very special special exhibition in the Industrial Museum enriched. The exhibition “Advent Calendar from Over 100 Years” offers visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in the fascinating history of this traditional custom and to ask exciting questions about the exhibitors’ collections.

This unique exhibition takes place in the premises of an old warehouse from 1895, where the industrialization of the region is already discussed. The museum, which examines the development of the city and its industry from the perspective of the people, not only invites you to explore the historical significance of the Advent calendar, but also to reflect on how this custom has been integrated into our modern times.

Invitation to a tour of discovery

The exhibition will open on December 27th and 28th, 2025. Those interested don't have to worry about registering - the museum is open to anyone who wants to find out more about the background and development of the Advent calendar. The exhibition highlights the origins of the Advent calendar, which began in Protestant Germany in the 19th century, and explains how this custom developed from a simple line calendar to the global phenomenon it is today.

The open conversation with the experts Angelika Salzwedel and Werner Ohff, which will take place on December 28, 2025 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., will be particularly exciting. Here, visitors have the opportunity to speak directly to the experts and gain even deeper insights into the subject matter.

The Elmshorn Industrial Museum – more than just an exhibition

The Elmshorn Industrial Museum is a place that fascinates! It shows the development of the city and its industrialization in the 19th and 20th centuries. People worked and lived on the water, where factories and shipyards were once located, and all of this can be experienced up close in the museum. The Krückau served not only as a transport route, but also as a source of water for production, while the port was once the largest inland transshipment point for grain in the German Empire.

However, visitors should be aware that the museum will be closed from Christmas Eve to December 26, 2025 and from December 29, 2025 to January 1, 2026. Otherwise, the museum is open from Tuesday to Saturday between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. and on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and is only about 400 meters from Elmshorn train station, which makes it easily accessible.

A global phenomenon

The Advent calendar as we know it today has its origins in the Protestant tradition and was developed to explain to children the wait for Christmas. Loud Mercury The Advent calendar enjoyed increasing popularity in the early 20th century, especially in Bavaria. Over time, this custom developed further - from the first printed forms to the popular door calendars to the modern variants with toys or chocolate.

Nowadays, the Advent calendar is widespread in many countries and has developed from a rather regional custom into a global classic. The variety is impressive - whether with spices, small gifts or digital content, there is a calendar to suit every taste.

Anyone who is interested in learning more about the history and development of the Advent calendar is warmly invited to visit the exhibition in the Elmshorn Industrial Museum. It's worth taking a look behind the scenes at the moving history of this traditional companion during Advent.