19 Best Advent Calendars That Are Cooler Than Just A Piece Of Chocolate
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One of the best things about the holiday season is counting down the days until celebrations begin. There’s something magical in the lead-up to days like Christmas, so having a special marker for each day can make that pre-holiday time even more special. One way to double down on the festive season is with an advent calendar, which you can customize to how you like to celebrate Christmas in your home.
What Is An Advent Calendar?
Advent calendars have been around for centuries and are linked to the Christian faith and the Advent season. They typically chart a countdown to Christmas starting on December 1st, though some advent calendars may look different, have a “12 Days of Christmas” theme, or contain additional elements. Some argue that the best advent calendars have cardboard windows with chocolate enclosed for each day, while other formats have pockets or spaces for more personalized gifts. And of course, you can buy many different varieties from your favorite brands with pre-filled gifts for each day leading up to Christmas.
As a kid, I loved rushing to where my homemade advent calendar hung in the kitchen to see what gift my parents had left for me, including stamps, lip balm, candy, and mini Christmas tree ornaments. It’s a tradition that builds the anticipation for Christmas, so join the fun!
Price Reference (average price):
$ | Under $50
$$ | Between $50-$100
$$$ | More than $100
Family Advent Calendars
For those who treasure quality family time during the holiday season, family-themed advent calendars are a heartwarming choice. These calendars often contain a delightful assortment of small surprises that the whole family can enjoy together, fostering a sense of togetherness and excitement as each day brings a new surprise—and they’re kid-friendly!
Image: Uncommon Goods
Retro Games Coding Advent Calendar
Uncommon goods
This unique advent calendar is a tech lover's dream. Each day, it reveals a different coding challenge and the components needed to build a retro-style video game.
Why We Love It: It's perfect for both beginners and experienced coders—aka the whole family—offering a fun and educational countdown to Christmas.
Image: Etsy
Handmade Fabric Christmas Advent Calendar
Persy Boo
Add a personal touch to your holiday traditions with this handmade fabric advent calendar. You can customize it with names or messages for your loved ones. Each day’s pocket leading up to Christmas can be filled with anticipation year after year.
Why We Love It: The charming, reusable design makes it a beautiful and sentimental addition to your home.
Image: Amazon
Bluey’s Advent Calendar
Bluey
Bring joy to the little ones with the Bluey Advent Calendar. Based on the popular children's show, it includes 24 pieces of delightful surprises.
Why We Love It: Some of the surprises include characters and accessories from the adorable animated series.
Image: Olive & June
Christmas Calendar
Olive & June
Elevate your holiday nail game! This beauty-themed advent calendar is a manicure lover's dream. Behind each of the 12 doors, you'll find nail essentials, polishes, and tools to pamper your hands throughout the holiday season, making sure your nails shine brightly.
Why We Love It: It’s a great way to build your nail polish collection without buying one at a time.
Image: The Body Shop
The Big Advent Of Change
The Body Shop
Behind each door of this calendar, you'll discover a selection of skincare and beauty products, and a portion of the proceeds goes towards supporting important global initiatives. You’ll find self-care and skincare items ranging from lip butter to shampoo to sheet masks—perfect for the dry months!
Why We Love It: Counting down to Christmas takes on a heartwarming and charitable meaning with this advent calendar.
Image: Revolve
2023 Advent Calendar
Revolve
Revolve Beauty's calendar is a must-have for beauty enthusiasts. With 24 beautifully curated beauty products, it provides a daily dose of glamor, featuring makeup, skincare, haircare, and more.
Why We Love It: Unbox a unique variety of premium brands and pamper yourself throughout the holiday season.
Candy Advent Calendars
This is for the sweet tooths! Perfect for children and adults alike, these calendars offer a daily sweet treat to savor, from chocolates to candies. The countdown to Christmas is made all the sweeter with these delightful surprises.
Image: Amazon
Tony’s Chocolonely Countdown Calendar
Tony’s Chocolonley
This calendar is a solid choice for chocolate lovers, as each day reveals a sweet surprise, featuring a variety of delectable chocolates. With a commitment to fair trade and ethical sourcing, this calendar is not only a treat, but also an opportunity to savor responsibly.
Why We Love It: Chocolate for every day of December!
Image: Williams Sonoma
Harry Potter Advent Calendar
Williams SOnoma
Harry Potter fans are in for a magical treat with this themed advent calendar. Behind each door, you'll discover wizarding world-inspired goodies and candies, making it an enchanting way to celebrate the holiday season for fans of the series, no matter their age.
Why We Love It: You can pair this calendar with a nightly reading of the series or a movie marathon.
Image: Godiva
2023 Holiday Advent Calendar
Godiva
Say yes to all that is luxury and indulgence. Behind each door, you'll find a delectable Godiva chocolate treat, ensuring a daily dose of gourmet delight in the lead-up to Christmas.
Why We Love It: It's a perfect choice for those with a taste for the finer things in life.
Wine Advent Calendars
For the connoisseur, wine advent calendars are an elegant way to celebrate the season. Behind each door, you'll find a small bottle or can of wine, allowing you to sample a diverse selection throughout December. It's a sophisticated way to make the holiday season merrier, especially if you share!
Image: Vinebox
12 Nights Of Wine
Vine Box
Wine enthusiasts can elevate their holiday season with the "12 Nights of Wine" Advent Calendar. It offers a nightly tasting adventure with 12 curated vials of fine wines from around the world. You can pick a calendar of only red wines, or a mixture of whites, rosés, and reds.
Why We Love It: You can celebrate the season with a toast each night, or spread it out over 24 nights.
Image: Maker
2023 Wine Advent Calendar
Maker
This canned wine advent calendar brings convenience to your home. Behind each door, you'll discover an array of premium canned wines—red, white, rosé, sparkling—perfect for sipping and sharing throughout the holiday season.
Why We Love It: It's a trendy and accessible way to enjoy a variety of wines, one can at a time.
Image: In Good Taste
2023 Wine Advent Calendar
In Good Taste
In Good Taste offers a luxurious selection of wines to make the holiday season more special. With 24 different wines from around the world, this calendar is a delight for wine connoisseurs.
Why We Love It: Delve into the origin of each wine and enjoy the adorable designs.
Food & Drink Advent Calendars
Food and drink advent calendars are some of the best because you know there won’t be any waste. These calendars contain a wide array of edible and drinkable treats that you can enjoy all month long.
Image: Uncommon Goods
12 Days Of Hot Sauce Advent Calendar
Uncommon Goods
Spice up your holiday season with hot sauce! Each day reveals a different flavorful hot sauce, offering a fiery countdown to Christmas. It's a perfect choice for heat-seeking food enthusiasts.
Why We Love It: Use these hot sauces at Christmas dinner to see who can stand the heat.
Image: Bean Box
12 Days Of Coffee
Bean Box
Coffee lovers can wake up and shake up their coffee this month. This calendar offers a daily dose of premium coffee from artisanal roasters. It's an easy and exciting way to explore a variety of coffee flavors.
Why We Love It: You can try plenty of new brews without committing to the whole bag.
Image: Churchill’s Tea
25 Days of Christmas: Tea Advent Calendar Kit
Churchill’s Tea
For tea aficionados, Churchill's Teas offers an Advent Calendar Variety that delivers a daily tea experience. With 24 unique blends, it's a journey through the world of fine teas, perfect for sipping and relaxing as you countdown to Christmas.
Why We Love It: from my favorite tea shop, these blends are so scrumptious!
Unique Advent Calendars
For those who appreciate aesthetics and innovation, uniquely designed advent calendars are a fun choice. From architectural marvels to artistic creations, they'll look beautiful yet cool in your space.
Image: Rifle Paper Co.
Snow Globe Advent Calendar
Rifle Paper Co.
This snow globe calendar is a charming addition to the holiday season. It features beautifully designed snow globes for each day, adding a touch of nostalgia and elegance to your Christmas countdown.
Why We Love It: With a 3D shape, this calendar doubles as holiday decor.
Image: Etsy
Adult Book Christmas Advent Calendar
Neverland Books US
Book lovers can revel in the joy of reading with this innovative “calendar” from Etsy. It offers a carefully selected book for each day, providing a delightful literary journey throughout the holiday season depending on the genre you select.
Why We Love It: You can re-gift the books when you’re done reading them.
Image: Kiwi Co.
Advent Calendar Bundle
Kiwi Co.
This calendar bundle offers a creative and educational twist to the season. It combines science, art, and hands-on activities to engage your mind. Each day you’ll build a piece for a holiday display.
Why We Love It: At the end of the month, you’ll have a DIY display you can show off.
Image: Altar’d State
Advent Calendar Jewelry Box
Altar’d State
The Altar'd State Jewelry Box is a stunning and kind treat. Each day reveals a piece of jewelry, adding sparkle and sophistication to your collection. Gift this to someone you want to shower with extra sparkle this year.
Why We Love It: The jewelry is cohesive and elegant, so it can be worn with what you already have or on its own.