We love a good countdown! Whether it’s Christmas, Hanukkah or a birthday, marking off days to the big day can be as joyous and memory-filled as the occasion itself. Here are advent calendars that help count down to the holidays.
Count Down to Christmas
The word Advent comes from the Latin word adventus or “coming.” To Christians, Advent is (in part) in anticipation of Christ’s birth. The tradition of counting down the four Sundays leading to the Advent of Christmas began in the fourth century, but paper Advent calendars with windows for 24 days prior to Christmas emerged in Germany in the early part of the 20th century.
8 Nights of Light
In the Jewish faith, Hanukkah is not as important as many other holidays, but due to its proximity to Christmas, some modern Jewish families have adopted December gift giving. The focus is the nightly lighting of the menorah—a memorial to the rededication of the second temple, where a small amount of oil miraculously lasted eight nights. The modern Hanukkah menorah is a candelabra of nine candles. The tallest candle at the center is referred to as the servant candle, as it is used to light the other candles. One candle is lit, starting from the left side, on the first evening. Another is lit each evening for eight nights.
ADVENT CALENDARS FOR ALL AGES
The Thames & Kosmos Science Advent Calendar (Volume 2)
$39.95; ThamesandKosmos.com
‘Tis the season for science. With this advent calendar, children open a new box each day to find new equipment or materials and the instructions for a science experiment. The experiments can be done quickly and only require additional items that are commonly found in every household. Each of the 24 beautifully designed boxes includes unique experiment materials and expertly written and illustrated instructions.
Bonne Filou Dog Treats Advent Calendar: 24 Holiday Dog Treats
$69.99; https://bonneetfilou.com/products/dog-treats-advent-calendar
Treat your dog(s) with a delectable selection of handmade dog treats including dog truffles, dog bones and dog macarons. Open each window to find a special treat, while counting down to Christmas Day. All dog treats are locally sourced with human-grade ingredients and handmade in small batches. The box contains 24 treats including 12 dog bones, 8 dog truffles, and 4 dog macarons.
PLAYMOBIL JUNIOR Advent Calendar - Snowy Christmas
$34.99; Amazon.com
Designed especially for toddlers and preschoolers with larger pieces, with activities that support a child's educational development and first role play. Fly the airplane with Santa and deliver presents. Contains twenty-four surprise items for each day leading up to Christmas, revealing a winter wonderland playset.
24 Days of Nuts & Snacks Advent Calendar
$49.99; DMSnacks.com
A scrumptious journey through December with a variety of gourmet treats. Each day unveils a new snack, including salty roasted cashews, tamari almonds, a fruity seed mix, and a tropical fruit blend. Enjoy bold flavors with buffalo-style pumpkin seeds, BBQ almonds, and zesty ranch cashews (dairy-free). For an extra kick, dive into the spicy Asian crunch mix. Perfect for food lovers, this calendar transforms the holiday countdown into a daily indulgence of savory, sweet, and spicy delights, making each day a flavorful celebration.
Sharing Kindness Advent Calendar
$34.95; https://sharingkindness.com/
Finally an Advent calendar that teaches it’s better to give from your heart than to receive. This is not your typical Advent calendar. It’s a 25 day countdown to Christmas with a new random act of kindness behind a numbered door each day. It shifts the focus from getting chocolates and gifts to spreading kindness and appreciation.
EXIT: The Game – Advent Calendar – The Missing Hollywood Star
$49.95; https://store.thamesandkosmos.com
This advent calendar is an EXIT game and an adventure story in one: To find the missing star, you must open a little calendar door every day. Behind each, you will find an exciting new riddle, the solution to which will help you to move onto the next day. Only if you follow the clues and solve all 24 riddles, will you uncover the secret and save the Christmas blockbuster.
Warming Joy Tea Tree by Tea Forte
https://teaforte.com
Raise a cup to our Warming Joy Collection and let the comfort of tea bring you together this winter season. The blends of Cherry Marzipan, Harvest Apple Spice, Raspberry Ganache, Sweet Orange Spice, and Winter Chai warm the soul with sweet baking spices, vibrant fruit, and the finest tea leaves. Perfect for giving or receiving.
National Geographic Dino Advent Calendar
$24.99; Amazon.com
Celebrate the season with the National Geographic Dinosaur Advent Calendar. This kit has an awesome assortment of 11 dino-themed activities and 13 collectible dino figures. It's the perfect holiday activity for kids that love dinosaurs and surprises.
Adventskalender – Reber Filled Chocolates
Europeandeli.com
They bring the goodness of European Christmas markets to your doorstep. As the exclusive purveyor of authentic treats from across the Atlantic, they deliver the best items found at these festive markets, like the ever-popular Lebkuchen-Schmidt (gingerbread cookies and pastries) in beautiful chests. Discover other favorites like Reber and Asbach chocolates, plus fun Advent Calendars for kids and adults (with liquor-filled sweets!). This is the one-stop gourmet destination for delicious specialties from Germany and nearby countries.
Winter Wonderland Advent Calendar
$24; FreshCutPaper.com
Each day reveals a charming surprise: From festive foxes to dapper deer. In this forest, animals are always dressed in their finest winter knitwear. Made from high-quality, 100% recyclable paper, this elegant accordion fold paper design ensures hassle-free setup. Measuring 15 inches tall, this calendar is perfect to display prominently on your mantel or tabletop.
Updated: September 2024
