A witch advent calendar is a unique twist on the traditional advent calendar. Rather than featuring the typical Christmas-themed images or chocolates, a witch advent calendar embraces the mystical and magical elements of witchcraft. Each day leading up to Christmas, instead of opening a door to reveal a small chocolate or a picture, you uncover a different witch-themed surprise. These surprises can range from small trinkets like crystals or spell candles, to miniature figurines of witches and their familiars. Some witch advent calendars even include small spell ingredients or charms, allowing practitioners to incorporate them into their magical practices throughout the holiday season. In addition to the physical surprises, a witch advent calendar often includes daily prompts or activities related to witchcraft.
In addition to the physical surprises, a witch advent calendar often includes daily prompts or activities related to witchcraft. These prompts can inspire practitioners to perform small rituals, read specific mystical texts, or engage in meditative practices. By participating in these daily activities, individuals can deepen their connection to their witchcraft practice and cultivate a sense of magic and wonder during the holiday season.
Introduction
Synopsis:
Three ladies in the service of the Queen of the Night save the fainting Prince Tamino from a serpent (“A serpent! A monster!”). When they leave to tell the queen, the bird catcher Papageno bounces in and boasts to Tamino that it was he who killed the creature (“I’m Papageno”). The ladies return to give Tamino a portrait of the queen’s daughter, Pamina, who they say is enslaved by the evil Sarastro, and they padlock Papageno’s mouth for lying. Tamino falls in love with Pamina’s face in the portrait (“This portrait’s beauty”). The queen, appearing in a burst of thunder, is grieving the loss of her daughter; she charges Tamino with Pamina’s rescue (“My fate is grief”). The ladies give a magic flute to Tamino and silver bells to Papageno to ensure their safety, appointing three spirits to guide them (“Hm! hm! hm! hm!”).
Sarastro’s slave Monostatos pursues Pamina (“You will not dare escape”), but is frightened away by the feather-covered Papageno, who tells Pamina that Tamino loves her and intends to save her. Led by the three spirits to the Temple of Sarastro, Tamino is advised by a high priest that it is the queen, not Sarastro, who is evil. Hearing that Pamina is safe, Tamino charms the animals with his flute, then rushes to follow the sound of Papageno’s pipes. Monostatos and his cohorts chase Papageno and Pamina, but are left helpless by Papageno’s magic bells. Sarastro, entering in great ceremony (“Long life to Sarastro”), promises Pamina eventual freedom and punishes Monostatos. Pamina is enchanted by a glimpse of Tamino, who is led into the temple with Papageno.
Sarastro tells his priests that Tamino will undergo initiation rites (“O Isis and Osiris”). Monostatos tries to kiss the sleeping Pamina (“Men were born to be great lovers”); he is discovered by the Queen of the Night, who dismisses him. She gives her daughter a dagger with which to murder Sarastro (“Here in my heart, Hell’s bitterness”).
The weeping Pamina is confronted and consoled by Sarastro (“Within our sacred temple”). Tamino and Papageno are told by a priest that they must remain silent and refrain from eating, a vow that Papageno immediately breaks when he takes a glass of water from a flirtatious old lady. The old lady vanishes when he asks her name. The three spirits appear to guide Tamino through the rest of his journey and to tell Papageno to be quiet. Tamino remains silent even when Pamina appears, which breaks her heart since she cannot understand his reticence (“Now my heart is filled with sadness”).
The priests inform Tamino that he has only two more trials to complete his initiation (“Why, beloved, must we part?”). Papageno longs for a cuddly wife, but settles for the old lady. When he promises to be faithful, she turns into a young Papagena but soon disappears.
After many dangers, Pamina and Tamino are reunited and face the ordeals of water and fire protected by the magic flute.
Papageno is saved from attempting suicide by the spirits who remind him that if he uses his magic bells he will find true happiness. When he does, Papagena reappears and the two plan for the future and move into a bird’s nest (“Pa-pa-pa …”). The Queen of the Night, her three ladies, and Monostatos attack the temple, but are defeated and banished. Sarastro joins Pamina and Tamino as the people hail Isis, Osiris, and the triumph of courage, virtue, and wisdom.
Opera synopsis courtesy of the Metropolitan Opera.
Funding for GREAT PERFORMANCES AT THE MET: “The Magic Flute” has been provided by Toll Brothers, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Charles E. Culpeper Foundation, the Arthur F. and Alice E. Adams Charitable Foundation, Miami, Florida, and PBS.
Related Web Sites
- PBS.org: Broadway: The American Musical: Julie Taymor
- Sony Classical: James Levine
- Nathan Gunn
- Ying Huang
- Erika Miklósa
- René Pape
- Matthew Polenzani
Julie Taymor’s production of Die Zauberflöte only gets better with age and familiarity. For this holiday season, the Metropolitan Opera is putting on the abridged, English-language version (called The Magic Flute to differentiate). Wednesday night’s opening performance was a reminder of how fine this 90-minute version is–in some key ways even better than the full version–and just as true to the origin and spirit of Mozart’s opera.
Witch advent calendars are a wonderful way for witches and magical practitioners to celebrate the countdown to Christmas in a way that is aligned with their beliefs and interests. They offer a fun and mystical alternative to the traditional advent calendar and can provide a daily dose of enchantment and inspiration throughout the festive season. Whether you are a dedicated witch or simply interested in exploring the magical world, a witch advent calendar can be a delightful addition to your holiday traditions..
Reviews for "Uncover the Secrets of Witchcraft: Dive into the Advent Calendar"
1. John - 2/5
I was really looking forward to the "Witchh Advent Calendar" since I love advent calendars and witchcraft. However, I was highly disappointed with this one. The items behind each door were small and insignificant. They were mostly tiny plastic trinkets that had no value or use. I was hoping for things like spell ingredients, crystals, or even small pieces of jewelry. The calendar itself was also poorly made, with doors that were difficult to open without ripping them. Overall, I would not recommend this advent calendar to anyone who is serious about witchcraft or wants something of value.
2. Sarah - 1/5
I can't express enough how much I disliked the "Witchh Advent Calendar". It was a complete waste of money. The items inside were nothing but cheap, poorly made plastic figures that had no connection to witchcraft whatsoever. The packaging was also misleading, with pictures of beautiful, enticing items, but what I received was far from that. Additionally, the calendar itself was flimsy and fell apart after just a couple of days. Save your money and look for a different advent calendar that actually delivers on its promises.
3. Emily - 3/5
I have mixed feelings about the "Witchh Advent Calendar". On the one hand, I appreciate the effort to create a witchcraft-themed calendar, as I haven't seen many options in that niche. However, the execution fell short. The items provided were mediocre at best, with some being repeats of the same generic plastic charms. While a few items had potential, most of them lacked creativity and quality. The calendar design was also lacking, with a plain, unappealing background that did not evoke the magic of witchcraft. I believe this calendar has potential, but it needs significant improvement in terms of both the items included and the overall presentation.