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December 10th, 2012

Busted Halo’s 2012 Advent Surprise Calendar

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Advent is a precious time in the Christian calendar. The four weeks leading up to December 25 are meant to be a period of expectant waiting, as we prepare ourselves for the miraculous arrival of our Savior, in the form of a vulnerable infant born to humble parents.

The reality for most of us, though, is that these are anxious weeks of shopping and holiday planning leading up to a hectic Christmas Day. In the bustle of the holiday season, it’s easy to forget what we’re waiting for.

Completely avoiding the Christmas onslaught may be impossible, but we can make an effort to maintain some connection to the spiritual foundation of this season. Busted Halo’s 2012 Advent Surprise Calendar is here to help a little with that.

In traditional Advent calendars, children open different windows throughout the season to reveal special surprises. Busted Halo’s Advent calendar brings its sense of surprise by showing you the whole calendar, but not letting you open each day and find out what’s behind the picture until that day comes along. This year, we turn our attention to matters of patience — hoping each day’s Daily Jolt and MicroChallenge will help all of us come through Advent with our serenity intact.

How the digital Advent calendar works

Each day, that day’s link in the Advent calendar will start working, leading to a special Advent-themed Daily Jolt, with an opportunity for reflection and a microChallenge. Some of the reflections come from unlikely sources, and the challenges help you to take an action, usually a small one, based on the reflection.

This year we will give away a weekly prize based on a random drawing among all the contestants who entered that week. Contestants will also be entered into the grand prize drawing for an iPad mini!

Entries must be accompanied by both email and snail mail addresses. (Don’t worry, this info won’t be given out to anyone; it just makes it easier to track contestants and winners.) The 16GB iPad mini Grand Prize will be awarded after December 25 in a random drawing from all eligible entries received during Advent. See the contest rules here.

All you need to do to enter each week is come back to our calendar, open a new day’s link and fill out an entry form. You can enter up to once a week (and if you enter every week you increase your chances of winning the grand prize.)

As you await the coming of our Lord on Christmas Day, use the Busted Halo Advent calendar each day to remind yourself of what this season is really about.

  • (13)
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  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=26904907 Mandy Schneider Pittman

    Have you folks thought about doing this through the Christmas season. I’m not even talking all the way to the Baptism of Jesus but just until the Epiphany? I really enjoy these calendars and they are a wonderful part of Advent and Lent for me.

    • http://bustedhalo.com/author/joe-williams Joe from Busted Halo

      Hi Mandy – The Daily Jolt will continue each day after the calendar is complete, and as far as a guide for the Christmas season…well, stay tuned for a little Christmas Surprise on the 25th. (wink, wink)

  • Monica

    Is there a link to the picture used on Friday Dec 7? I have a picture by the same artist (I think!). Georges Rouault. Thank you.

  • juke

    zac effron has a secret to tell us…right elmo? ;)

  • http://www.facebook.com/carlicastellani Carli Harkirat Castellani

    Yes I am curious whether there is a daily e-mail reminder type thing one could subscribe to, or will you post it on the facebook page daily for people to use the calendar during Advent? Thanks! Lovely & fun concept!

    • http://bustedhalo.com/author/joe-williams Joe from Busted Halo

      Hi Carli – we will be posting the quotes and challenges on our Facebook page the day before around 9pm EST. If anyone wants updates and reminders, they should like us at: https://www.facebook.com/bustedhalo

      Thanks for reading!

      • http://www.facebook.com/carlicastellani Carli Harkirat Castellani

        Thank you!

  • Guest

    I am an advocate for the Busted Halo Advent Calendar, but wanted to know if there has been thought about making it something we could follow so that it would shoot us a daily reminder email with the calendar?

  • Julie

    Is this appropriate to use with my class of sixth graders? I can’t peek. ;)

  • http://www.facebook.com/kristen.tonne Kristen Tonne

    Can we download this calendar now?

    • barbara_wheeler

      Hi Kristen — The calendar isn’t downloadable. The Daily Jolt and MircoChallenge for each day become active on that day and you’ll see it when you click through to that day’s calendar page.

  • Barbara Wheeler

    Hi Marshhk, We’re pointing everyone toward our 2012 Advent Calendar — it will begin December 2. In the meantime you can check out our Daily Jolts and MircoChallenges (similar to the calendar).

  • Marshhk

    Where did the 2011 Calendar go that I was exploring this morning? Is it possible to visit it now? It was so wonderful and I was going to show all my clergy friends!

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