Sveriges Television's Christmas calendar

Swedish children's television series Sveriges Television's Christmas calendarAlso known asSveriges Televisions adventskalenderSveriges Televisions julkalenderGenreChildrenCountry of originSwedenOriginal languageSwedishOriginal releaseNetworkSVTRelease27 November 1960 (1960-11-27) Swedish Television's Christmas calendar (Swedish: Sveriges Televisions julkalender) previously Swedish Television's Advent calendar (Sveriges Televisions adventskalender) is a Christmas calendar television series mainly for children, broadcast by Sveriges Television (Sweden's national public television broadcaster) since 1960 and has developed into an essential part of contemporary Swedish Christmas tradition. Every series consists of 24 episodes (with a few exceptions), broadcast daily 1–24 December. The theme for most series have some connection to Christmas. Prior to 1971, it was called Adventskalendern. Sveriges Radio also has a tradition of broadcasting a similar series on the radio each year and prior to 1973, it was always the same series on the radio and on television (with a few differences in adaptation, depending on the medium), but since then, it has been a different series on the radio and on television. In the beginning, the series began on Advent Sunday, but nowadays, it always starts on 1 December; it has always ended on Christmas Eve (24 December). Thus, for instance, the 1967 series Gumman som blev liten som en tesked had only 22 episodes, since the Advent Sunday of that year was 3 December. Along with each series, there is always the opportunity to buy a paper calendar with a window to open each day. These are available in most Swedish retail outlets, shops, supermarkets etc. and the windows usually contain images of something to do with the plot of that day's episode. Every series from 1988 onwards has been released on DVD, as well as some series before that. From the 1980s, all but the 1980 and 1987 series have been released. From the 1960s, the 1967 and 1969 series are available and from the 1970s, the 1972, 1973, 1974, 1977, 1978 and 1979 series are available. Until 2011, the older series were released by Pan Vision, but from 2012, distribution has been taken over by Scanbox Entertainment. There are usually two or three new series releases in the autumn each year.

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Year

Title

English translation

DVD release date

Notes

1960

Titteliture

Titteliture

TBA

The premiere was on 27 November (Advent Sunday) and not 1 December, but the series still contained 24 episodes, since Swedish Television did not broadcast on Wednesdays at this time.

1961

Julbåten Juliana

The Christmas Boat Juliana

TBA

1962

Tomtefamiljen i Storskogen

The Santa Claus Family in the Big Woods

TBA

1963

Den tänkande brevbäraren

The Thinking Postman

TBA

This calendar is also known as Brevbäraren vid TV-gatan (The Mailman on Television Street; in radio, it was called Brevbäraren vid Radiogränd [The Mailman in Radio Alley]) and the mailman was played by Stig Grybe.

1964

Lill-Stina på reportage i Storskogen

Little Stina on report in the Big Woods

TBA

1965

Farbror Pekkas handelsbod

Every December, families across Sweden gather in front of the TV for a ritual that feels as inevitable as the lighting of the Advent candles. The 24‑episode format mirrors a physical advent calendar, turning each day into a tiny narrative treat. Because the stories are made for children but packed with nostalgia, adults end up watching too, sparking inter‑generational conversation. The series has become a cultural timestamp: a new show often signals the year's aesthetic trends, while classic reruns revive cherished memories. Its endurance since 1960 shows how a simple daily countdown can cement a programme into the national festive fabric.

If you’re deciding whether to follow the visual or audio version, consider the setting. The televised calendar shines when you have a cosy couch, warm blankets and perhaps a mug of glögg; the colourful sets and costumes add a visual punch that the radio can’t match. Conversely, the radio edition fits snugly into a busy morning routine or a car ride, letting the story unfold through sound design and voice acting alone. Many fans alternate: they watch the TV episode for the visual spectacle, then replay the radio version later for a fresh, imagination‑driven experience. This dual approach maximises the festive spirit without over‑committing your schedule.

A frequent myth is that the series begins on the first Sunday of Advent, as it did in its earliest years. Since the early 1970s, SVT has standardised the launch to 1 December, regardless of the liturgical calendar. This change ensures that every episode lands squarely before Christmas Eve, preserving the 24‑day countdown that viewers now expect. Newcomers who tune in for the first time might miss the extra episode that older fans recall from the 1960s, where the series sometimes started later. Understanding this shift helps avoid confusion when exploring the archive or comparing past and present seasons.