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The History of X-E’s Advent Calendar.

Well, it's almost time for the fifth annual X-Entertainment Advent Calendar. I've at times tried to write a summary of the entire story, but it never quite pans out -- if it seems confusing to me, surely it'd be too confusing for those who haven't been reading for the PAST FIVE YEARS.

Let me give it a shot: Every year, the Playmobil toy company releases an "Advent Calendar" playset. It contains many things, but it especially contains many living, breathing action figures named Mare Winningham, who bear no strong relation to the real Mare Winningham, but look just like her.

Mares are born evil, but they don't have to stay that way. After a wild and destructive romp in 2003, teenagers Knacks and Kuse, taken with the legend of Mare, dug up her gruesome remains and used voodoo tricks to resurrect her. Literally born again, this chief Mare (who in reality is just one of many, many Mares -- all clones, see) softened and became good friends with her teenage saviors. In 2004, the trio enjoyed sushi and the many fruits of that year's Advent Calendar, ultimately saving Santa Claus, and by extension, Christmas itself.

Sadly, Mare sacrificed her own life for that good deed -- but don't fret! With a little Christmas magic, the thought-to-be-unrelated Mare that sprung off the 2005 Advent Calendar remembered her roots and fought for the forces of good once more. Now a brunette, Mare and the typically downtrodden Kuse (who was born without facial features and was ultimately given a new face, albeit an ugly, gray, scarred face, from Santa Claus) forged a romantic relationship, and Christmas was saved once more.

And that's just the tip. There are evil Mares. There are LEGO Advent Calendars. There's an unscrupulous fellow named "Waiterbot," who is essentially a talking brain who can commandeer the body of anyone who gets too close to his hollow head. There are new Santa Clauses, year after year, some good, some evil. There's even a bit player with eight heads all stacked one right on top of the other.

When we last saw our friends, things were good. Mare and Kuse were enjoying their honeymoon period. Knacks got to ride in Santa's sleigh. Waiterbot and his bride, Waiterbetty, joined forces with the heroes for no readily apparent reason. But, things change quick in Advent Calendarland, and until it's time, there's just no telling what trials, what horrors and what mayhem our friends might face.

It all starts December 1st. Know your history by reading the previous installments...

X-E Advent Calendars Of The Past!
2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005

Posted by Matt on 11/28/2006. E-mail me!



Discussion Thread: 148 comments

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Wow…sounds almost like what Mel Gibson’s Apocalytpo looks like! I can’t wait to see axe-wielding jungle savages just in time to get me in the Christmas mood! :)

Chestnuts roasted by venison @ 11/28/2006 1:17 AM


I’m ashamed to say that I’d never taken the time to learn of Mare Winningham’s origins until last week when I read all four previous calendars in one day. Whew. What a ride.

Chestnuts roasted by Hey I'm Jeff @ 11/28/2006 1:22 AM


Um, yeah. I think I forgot to read last year’s. I’ll do that straight-away.

Chestnuts roasted by K- @ 11/28/2006 1:28 AM


and so it begins…again!!!!

Chestnuts roasted by King Chachi @ 11/28/2006 1:32 AM


My first year for the “Advent Calendar.” I’m ready. I haven’t read thru the archives, yet, but I love Christmas count-downs. Whatever the hell they are, if they count down to Christmas, I’m game!

As a kid, I made these construction paper chain things to count down to Christmas. You’d pull a link of the chain off every day until Christmas. We usually started Mid-November and counted from there. It didn’t matter if you miscounted at the beginning because you’d check your calender to the number of links you had left, you’d always have too many at some point, you’d just rip off links until you balanced the chain to day ratio.

I LOOOOOOVE CHRISTMAS!

I started Christmas about 1-2 weeks before Thanksgiving….oops!

Chestnuts roasted by kyjlm @ 11/28/2006 1:39 AM


Sorry for the double post….

AND….

We used to have an “Advent Calendar” in my house growing up. It was fabric and you moved a Santa from “day” to “day.” No “presents.” Just another way to count the days until Christmas.

Chestnuts roasted by kyjlm @ 11/28/2006 1:42 AM


Oh God, I can’t wait to see what Mare Winningham cooks up this time. I wonder if Mista Snowman will make an appearance?

Wow, I just realized that I’ve been following XE for 5 years now (if this is indeed the fifth Calendar)….

Chestnuts roasted by Cameron T. @ 11/28/2006 1:51 AM


I’ve been spending my nights at work catching up on the old calendars! These are your tax dollars at work, people! Okay, maybe not YOUR tax dollars but the people in my city anyway. :D

On a side note, who’s going to be watching The Great American Christmas with me on the 28th?!

Chestnuts roasted by broomstickjockey @ 11/28/2006 2:05 AM


Wow, really five years. I’ve only been here since 03 but five is a mile stone. Great diligence Matt. It’s nice to see people who excel at what they are good at and share it with others. Especially those of us who are 28 and still have warm thoughts of finding an Imperial Shuttle under the tree someday.

Chestnuts roasted by Bill @ 11/28/2006 2:14 AM


YES! This really is just the thing I need after a day at my sucky job! Playmobile makes it all worthwhile! You rock, Matt!

Chestnuts roasted by Larry @ 11/28/2006 2:18 AM


You’re a braver man than I, opening the unfinished 2002 calender can o’ worms… Une salade de lapin…

Chestnuts roasted by Katherine @ 11/28/2006 2:23 AM


(I can’t believe I just spelled calendar wrong…)

Chestnuts roasted by Katherine @ 11/28/2006 2:24 AM


Ahh, the X-E advent calender. The one thing that comes close to making Christmas bump Halloween off the #1 spot on my favorite holidays list.

Also, don’t let Matt lie to you. Waiterbot isn’t a talking brain. He’s a Krang.

Chestnuts roasted by Jeff @ 11/28/2006 3:11 AM


Hello everyone,

It’s nice to see that the X-E home page is in full swing for the Christmas season. I kinda like how Matt left the Creature from the Black Lagoon in place, albeit with a Santa hat.

Chestnuts roasted by Hoverbored @ 11/28/2006 3:17 AM


OooooooOOoooOOO, Pretty front page!

Chestnuts roasted by Jester @ 11/28/2006 3:50 AM


I now have a plan. I will re-read the old calendars in preparation for the new one. Also I will listen to my audio version of Lisey’s Story so that I will have Mare’s real actual voice permanently stuck in my head.

Chestnuts roasted by X @ 11/28/2006 3:52 AM


Drrrble pst. With no “o”. I was readin’ the first advent calendar and am sad because I can’t see the last three days of the calendar. And I don’t remember how it ends.

Chestnuts roasted by X @ 11/28/2006 5:00 AM


Oh, it’s going to be a Mare-y Christmas after all!

Someone inform me who Mare is named after; I’ve never heard of an actual Mare Winningham.

Chestnuts roasted by Mars @ 11/28/2006 5:07 AM


I’m pretty sure that it didn’t end.

Chestnuts roasted by Jeff @ 11/28/2006 5:07 AM


http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001858/

Sorry for the double post. Mars, I didn’t see your post until after I had posted.

Chestnuts roasted by Jeff @ 11/28/2006 5:09 AM


I sincerely hope that Knacks and Kuse find the remains of the very first advent calendar so we can finally fuckin’ see what the last 3 days were.

Jeez, that poor Santa. He must look like HELL after all this time stuck in a box.

Chestnuts roasted by Evin @ 11/28/2006 6:32 AM


I look forward to this every year. I can’t wait.

Chestnuts roasted by Geoffinsanity @ 11/28/2006 8:50 AM


Yes! The advent calendar is on its way! When I was in Korea teaching English, Matt’s advent calendar was the only thing that actually made it feel like Xmas time over there….Thanks, Matt! :) Can’t wait to get going on this year’s installment. And I cannot believe I have been reading your calendar for 4 years now. Wow.

Chestnuts roasted by Muppet Baby @ 11/28/2006 9:27 AM


Yay! I’ve also read the advent for the last 4 years, and I read about the 2002 debacle. Wow.

broomstickjockey, I’ll be watching “Charlie Brown Christmas” tonight! (first year in a while that I’ll be seeing it on tv! Silly me, I thought it was gonna be on yesterday…)

Chestnuts roasted by Invader Norbert @ 11/28/2006 10:29 AM


Sadly, this will be only my third year with the Advent Calendar, but I’ve read them all and I, too, can’t wait until Friday, sweet Friday…

P.S. The Photog book is coming along very well. I will now put out my near-threadly request for any files related to that debacle. bboyelwood@aol.com

Chestnuts roasted by Rhino @ 11/28/2006 10:53 AM


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