The Advent calendar tradition transforms December into a month-long celebration, with daily surprises building anticipation for Christmas. Whether you prefer chocolate-filled calendars, DIY activity calendars, or luxury beauty advent calendars, this guide covers everything you need to know.
What Is an Advent Calendar?
An Advent calendar counts down the days until Christmas, traditionally starting December 1st and ending December 24th (Christmas Eve). Each day, you open a numbered door, drawer, or pocket to reveal a small gift, treat, or activity.
The tradition originated in 19th-century Germany, where Protestant families marked the days of Advent (the four Sundays before Christmas) with chalk marks, candles, or small pictures. The first printed Advent calendar appeared in 1902.
Today, Advent calendars have evolved far beyond their religious origins. You’ll find everything from chocolate calendars to beauty product calendars, toy calendars to experience calendars.
Types of Advent Calendars
Chocolate Advent Calendars
The classic choice. Each day reveals a piece of chocolate shaped like a Christmas symbol. Available everywhere from grocery stores to luxury chocolatiers.
Best for: Traditionalists, chocolate lovers, easy Christmas prep
Popular brands:
- Lindt — Premium chocolate with beautiful packaging
- Cadbury — British classic with Dairy Milk chocolate
- Godiva — Luxury chocolates for sophisticated palates
- Tony’s Chocolonely — Ethical chocolate with unique flavors
- Store brands — Budget-friendly options from Target, Trader Joe’s, Aldi
Price range: $5-$50
Toy Advent Calendars
Daily building fun. LEGO, Playmobil, and other toy brands create calendars where each day reveals a small toy or building element. By Christmas, you’ve assembled a complete holiday scene or collection.
Best for: Kids who love building, collectors
Popular options:
- LEGO — Star Wars, Harry Potter, City, Friends themes
- Playmobil — Holiday-themed scenes and figures
- Hot Wheels — Miniature cars
- Barbie — Fashion and accessories
- Funko Pop! — Vinyl figures from popular franchises
Price range: $30-$60
Beauty & Skincare Calendars
Luxury self-care countdown. Each day reveals a beauty product sample or full-size item. These calendars often cost $100+ but contain $500+ worth of products.
Best for: Beauty enthusiasts, skincare lovers, trying new products
Popular brands:
- Sephora — Makeup and skincare variety
- Lookfantastic — Premium beauty brands
- The Body Shop — Ethical beauty products
- Glossybox — Curated beauty discoveries
- L’Occitane — Luxury French skincare
Price range: $50-$300
Food & Drink Calendars
Gourmet discoveries. From cheese to wine, coffee to hot sauce, food advent calendars offer daily taste adventures.
Popular types:
- Cheese calendars — Daily cheese samples (refrigeration required)
- Wine calendars — Mini bottles or wine accessories
- Coffee calendars — Single-serve pods or ground coffee samples
- Tea calendars — Premium tea varieties
- Hot sauce calendars — Spicy countdown for heat lovers
- Whiskey calendars — Mini bottles for spirits enthusiasts
Price range: $50-$150
DIY & Refillable Calendars
Personalized magic. Wooden calendars with drawers, fabric pouches, or paper envelopes you fill yourself with treats, notes, or activities tailored to your family.
Best for: Families with young children, personal touches, budget control
What to fill them with:
- Small toys or trinkets
- Candy and treats
- Activity cards (“Make hot chocolate tonight”)
- Acts of kindness (“Do something nice for your sibling”)
- Scripture verses or inspirational quotes
- LEGO minifigures
- Temporary tattoos
- Stickers
- Coins or small bills
- Christmas story excerpts
Price range: $15-$100 for reusable calendar (one-time purchase)
Experience & Activity Calendars
Create memories, not stuff. Each day reveals an activity or experience instead of a physical gift.
Activity ideas:
- Watch a Christmas movie
- Bake cookies together
- Drive to see Christmas lights
- Make paper snowflakes
- Hot chocolate and board games
- Donate toys
- Video call a distant relative
- Build a blanket fort
- Sing carols
- Write letters to Santa
- Make ornaments
- Read a Christmas story
Best for: Minimalists, experience-focused families, creating traditions
Specialty & Niche Calendars
The Advent calendar trend has exploded into every imaginable category:
- Book advent calendars — Mini books or story excerpts
- Craft calendars — Daily crafting supplies and projects
- Puzzle calendars — Daily puzzle piece reveals final image
- Sock calendars — 12 or 24 pairs of festive socks
- Candle calendars — Tea lights or small candles
- Pet treat calendars — For dogs, cats, even horses
- Gardening calendars — Seeds and growing supplies
- Fishing lure calendars — For fishing enthusiasts
- Tool calendars — Miniature tools and hardware
- Jerky calendars — Meat snacks for carnivores
How to Choose the Right Advent Calendar
Consider:
Age of recipients — Choking hazards for young children, sophistication for teens
Dietary restrictions — Many chocolate calendars contain allergens
Budget — Range from $5 to $300+
Values — Consumerism vs. experiences, sustainability vs. convenience
Space — Large wooden calendars need display space
Reusability — Will you use it for years or is it one-and-done?
Interests — Match the calendar to hobbies and passions
Creative DIY Advent Calendar Ideas
Envelope Advent Calendar
Supplies: 24 small envelopes, string, clothespins How: Hang envelopes on a string like a garland, fill with activities or treats Cost: Under $10 Time: 30 minutes
Matchbox Advent Calendar
Supplies: 24 matchboxes, decorative paper, small trinkets How: Cover matchboxes with festive paper, stack in a pyramid, number 1-24 Cost: $15-20 Time: 1 hour
Toilet Paper Roll Advent Calendar
Supplies: 24 toilet paper tubes, wrapping paper, treats How: Wrap tubes like crackers, arrange in tree shape Cost: Nearly free (uses recyclables) Time: 1 hour
Felt Pocket Advent Calendar
Supplies: Felt fabric, sewing supplies, ribbon How: Create 24 pockets on felt backing, hang on wall Cost: $20-30 Time: 3-4 hours Benefit: Reusable for years
Activity Jar Advent Calendar
Supplies: Mason jar, popsicle sticks, markers How: Write activities on 24 sticks, pull one each day Cost: Under $10 Time: 30 minutes
Advent Calendar Traditions to Start
The daily ritual — Open the calendar at the same time each day (breakfast, after school, bedtime)
Taking turns — If you have multiple children, rotate who opens each day
Saving special days — Open December 24th together on Christmas Eve
Combining calendars — Use both a chocolate calendar and an activity calendar
Adult calendars — Parents deserve countdown fun too (wine, coffee, beauty)
Countdowns beyond Christmas — Advent calendars for birthdays, vacations, first day of school
When to Start Your Advent Calendar
Traditional Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas (varies annually). This means Advent might start in late November.
December 1st start is more common for 24-day calendars aligned to December dates.
Personal preference rules — start when it feels right for your family.
Advent Calendar Alternatives
Advent wreaths — Traditional Christian symbol with four candles lit on Sundays before Christmas
Paper chains — Remove one link each day counting down to Christmas
Advent books — 24 or 25 Christmas books wrapped individually, unwrap and read one each night
Kindness advent — Daily acts of generosity instead of receiving gifts
Reverse advent — Each day, donate something (food, toys, clothes) to those in need
Making Advent Meaningful
The best Advent calendars balance anticipation with intention:
Don’t just consume — Whether chocolate or toys, use the daily opening as a moment of connection
Add gratitude — Share one thing you’re grateful for when opening each day
Include others — Some families share every other day’s treat with neighbors or classmates
Connect to Christmas meaning — For religious families, include Scripture verses or Nativity story elements
Slow down — The daily ritual forces you to pause in a hectic season
Shopping for Advent Calendars
When to buy: September-October for best selection. Many specialty calendars sell out by Thanksgiving.
Where to buy:
- Amazon — Huge selection, often discounted
- Target — Affordable options, exclusive licenses
- Costco — Bulk pricing on premium calendars
- Sephora — Beauty calendars
- LEGO Store — Official LEGO calendars
- Etsy — Handmade and personalized options
- Local boutiques — Unique, curated calendars
Watch for deals: Black Friday often sees Advent calendar discounts.
Troubleshooting Common Advent Calendar Problems
Problem: Child opens multiple days at once Solution: Store calendar out of reach, set clear boundaries, consider a jar calendar where you hand them each day’s item
Problem: Lost track of which day to open Solution: Mark a paper calendar or use the actual date even if it doesn’t match the calendar number
Problem: Chocolate melted or food spoiled Solution: Store in cool, dry place; consider refrigerating food calendars
Problem: Broke calendar door/drawer Solution: Mark with sticker or tape if it’s a one-year calendar; repair with glue if it’s reusable
Problem: Don’t like what’s inside Solution: DIY calendars let you customize; for store-bought, peek ahead and swap items if needed (yes, you can cheat)
The Future of Advent Calendars
Advent calendars have evolved from simple chocolate boxes to elaborate experiences. Trends to watch:
Sustainable calendars — Reusable, plastic-free, minimal packaging
Digital advent calendars — Apps and websites with virtual surprises
Charitable calendars — Each purchase donates to causes
Luxury escalation — Ever more expensive beauty, jewelry, and spirits calendars
Hyper-niche markets — Calendars for every possible hobby and interest
Start Your Advent Tradition Today
The right Advent calendar transforms December from a rushed month into a series of small, joyful moments. Whether you buy a chocolate calendar for $5 or craft an elaborate wooden calendar you’ll use for decades, the daily ritual creates Christmas magic.
The best Advent calendar is the one you’ll actually use. Start simple. Evolve as your family grows. Make it yours.
Explore more Christmas traditions: Learn about Christmas tree traditions, Christmas cookie recipes, and Christmas gift ideas.
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