Children used to look forward to opening a window each day and trying to guess what was behind the window. Every picture was something to do with the Nativity story.

Gradually the pictures behind the window also started to show toys, sweets, decorations, Christmas pudding and other things we associate with Christmas.

Then chocolates appeared behind the windows so that children who have advent calenders with just pictures now feel deprived of the treats that their friends are enjoying daily. Even more luxurious are fabric wall hangings with a pocket for a gift.

What will be the advent calender of the future I wonder? Has somebody produced one with money behind each window, or maybe a lottery ticket or a cheque? Animated computer advents may offer holidays to Disneyland or Lapland for getting the ‘prize’ picture under a special date. Maybe life sized advents in town centres will have real Santa’s popping out to give a present, and interactive TV may have a different cartoon behind each window.

As childrens’ Christmas lists are fast becoming similar to wedding lists in the assumption that all demansds will be met, maybe future advent windows will come with a pencil and a blank space behind each window for children to write something they want behind it. Then they close it and give the whole thing back to parents/relatives on Christmas eve, ready for them to rush out to get all the little darlings ‘must haves.’

Before anyone says this is far fetched - so were chocolate treat advent calenders not so many years ago.