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The tradition of the Advent calendar dates back to the mid-nineteenth century, when German Protestants would make chalk marks on doors to mark the days leading up to Christmas.

German-born Gerhard Lang is widely regarded as having made the first Advent calendar in the early 1900s, and ever since then they have become a popular pre-Christmas gift, eventually adding little pieces of chocolate behind the doors in the latter half of the twentieth century.

Now, Advent calendars are a booming business, and you can buy Advent calendars filled with little bottles of gin , pork scratchings or even a £250 sex toy Advent calendar ...

Sainsbury's and Asda supermarkets will soon be launching a reasonably-priced cheese Advent calendar containing seven varieties of cheese: Edam, Applewood, Red Leicester, Wensleydale, Cheddar, Jarlsberg and a limited-edition ginger cheese.

The calendar will need to be kept in the fridge, but each chunk of cheese will be wrapped up so they won't go hard.

The Ilchester Cheese Advent Calendar will launch at Sainsbury's on November 14 and retail at £10, and it will launch at Asda on November 15 and retail for £8.