The Doors of an Advent Calendar

A Toy Store and a Publishing House on the 11th Day of Advent. Plus, a Cookie.

“The Little Town” Advent Calendar, Days 10 & 11

Every morning when I open a new door of “The Little Town” Advent calendar, I catch a glimmer of the excitement I felt as a kid opening one of the little doors, and it’s nice.

I found today’s and yesterday’s doors told a bit of the personal story of the creator of the calendar.

On Days 10 & 11, the calendar, the first published in post-war Germany in 1946, depicts the building where Richard Sellmer, the publisher, had his original office in Stuttgart before the war. The company is still family run in Stuttgart.

The Little Town Days 10 & 11, doors closed

On the first floor of the building is a shop with “Spielwaren” or “toys” written on the doors. Above the doors are the words “Verlag” or “Publishing House” with the location, Stuttgart, Rohr.

Then there is the name of R. Sellmer, Richard Sellmer, who had been granted a license to resume production by the US government after the war.

So much history lives in this little Advent calendar.

In the next few days, the upper floor windows will be opened and reveal what I’m hoping will be illustrations that give us a glimpse of the publishing house offices. We’ll see! ✨

A Cookie with a Cheeky Name

Brown Butter Cardamom Spitzbuben

Photo: Jolene

The figurine in this photo was one of four bought by my Mother in the 1960s, and something about it feels like it would fit right in in one of the windows of “The Little Town” Advent calendar.

I made these cookies a few years ago, and I’m making them again right before Christmas this year.

They are called “Spitzbuben” or “Cheeky Boy” or “Rascal”, originally found in Switzerland and then Southern Germany and they are absolutely delicious. I used lingonberry and wild strawberry jam — this is one of my very favorite cookies.

Recipe link here: Spitzbuben

If you’d like to read the original post — there’s a story— I’ve linked to it here.

See you tomorrow!

Jolene