Excited for the holidays? Advent calendars have long been a popular way for both kids and adults to count down the days until Christmas. It used to be common for advent calendars to only contain chocolate, but nowadays you can find advent calendars for just about anything.
We chose the Limited Edition Advent Calendar With Mini Fruit Spreads and Honey by Bonne Maman as our favorite. If jam and honey aren't for you, though, we have nine more highly-rated advent calendars to choose from on our top 10 list. Make sure to take a look at our buying guide for more helpful information, too.
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Table of Contents
With so many advent calendars available, it can be tricky to choose just one! That's why we've constructed this handy buying guide to help you decide which advent calendar fits the bill for you.
Chocolate advent calendars are still popular, whether they’re from Hershey’s or more luxury brands. However, there are more food and drink calendars to choose from than just chocolate! Whether you love cheese, preserves, or coffee, there is a calendar for you.
Beauty and cosmetics calendars are becoming increasingly popular, and major brands such as MAC and Clarins now release their own. You can get a selection of make-up, skincare, or nail polish behind your calendar doors. These calendars are a great way to try a variety of new products.
If you’re a fan of a popular entertainment franchise, it probably has an advent calendar! Lego and Funko produce calendars for properties such as Harry Potter and Star Wars every year, and there are multiple calendars for the TV show Friends.
As well as food or entertainment calendars, there are also advent calendars aimed specifically at children. These can be purely fun and have model dinosaurs or slime, but it’s also possible to get educational ones with science or puzzle themes.
Of course, you can also get advent calendars that are specifically Christmas themed. Examples of these include Christmas themed toys or jewelry or ones that tell the story of the Nativity.
There are other, more unique ideas, too! You can find advent calendars that have Christmas ornaments inside so you can decorate your tree or home as advent passes by. Another recently popular version is a scratch-off calendar where instead of opening a door and getting a gift, you simply scratch off the day to reveal a picture or motto.
If you're looking for an advent calendar for someone special, it's possible to make your own. You can get the advent calendar personalized with their name or interests and pick your own gifts to put inside.
If you’re looking for an advent calendar for yourself, then this is easy; buy whatever catches your eye! If you’re buying for someone else, though, then a little more thought may be required. Think about what they like and will use.
If they have a brand that they like, see if they have an advent calendar! Advent calendars can also be an excellent way to sample what a brand has to offer. For example, if someone loves tea and is always looking for new blends, then an advent calendar from a tea manufacturer will have 24 varieties they can try.
Make sure you don’t buy a calendar that includes anything someone is allergic to. Try not to buy an advent calendar that is useless for them, either. Don’t buy an alcohol advent calendar for someone that doesn’t drink or a Harry Potter calendar for someone who’s never read the books!
People are becoming more environmentally conscious and are trying to reduce their waste. Depending on the type of advent calendar, it might produce a lot of unnecessary trash. The individual gifts might be wrapped in plastic or made from plastic themselves and serve no long-lasting purpose.
Why not look for an advent calendar that not only celebrates the season but doesn’t hurt the environment? Look for products that contain useable or recyclable goods.
Another way to do this is to purchase a reusable advent calendar. Since there are 24 days in an advent calendar, no matter the year, you can purchase numbered bags or boxes and fill them with your own advent calendar goodies.
Advent calendars come in various shapes and sizes; it all depends on what the contents are! With some calendars, it's easy to mount them on the wall, but this is virtually impossible for others. If it's a bulky box, it will need a safe place on a table.
You may also want to consider the contents! If the items inside are breakable, like glass bottles, then leaning the box on a mantle might not be the best idea.
As you'll be using the advent calendar every day throughout December, it's best to keep it in a place where it is easily accessible. So whatever you buy, make sure you have room for it!
$39.99
This cute advent calendar features bright and beautiful Christmas-themed illustrations. The advent calendar has 23 different one-ounce jams and a jar of honey, including exclusive holiday flavors like apple with caramel & cinnamon.
Bonne Maman is a French company that is well-known for its original and delicious spreads. Their advent calendar is popular every year with fans of jam and honey! Plus, the chic design makes this a perfect gift.
A few reviewers find some of the flavor combinations a bit eccentric. However, many reviewers love the variety of flavors included in the calendar. They are also glad that the jams contain only natural ingredients and have no high fructose corn syrup or artificial colorings.
$5.99
If you're looking for a traditional and safe option, you can't go wrong with a festive advent calendar full of Hershey's Kisses. Each window has the same item behind it - a Hershey's Kiss - so there are no surprises with this one. Its simplicity also makes it great for kiddos!
Some reviewers are disappointed by the packaging since it's just thin cardboard. Other reviewers liked the straightforwardness of the calendar. Because it's full of Hershey's Kisses, they knew that the chocolate would be of good quality! They also confirm that it makes a great gift since so many people enjoy this classic chocolate treat.
$35.99
This LEGO advent calendar has a mix of pre-assembled figures and ones to put together. It features a wide variety of Star Wars characters, vehicles, and even has some Christmas themed pieces.
The box doubles as a backdrop so you can create your own wintery Star Wars scene with the included figures. The whole set includes 329 pieces, so there's a lot to discover with this calendar.
Reviewers love this advent calendar and say it is great for Star Wars fans of any age. They like the mix of figures it includes and the fun of putting them together. They also love the variety and look forward to getting a new one every year!
$21.99
This advent calendar from Crayola is a mix of craft supplies and activities that will keep any child busy throughout December. It includes markers, paints, and crayons, but it also has daily activities that make use of the supplies.
Reviewers suggest that this is better for younger children. They point out that some doors only have a single crayon, which might be disappointing for kids that love to craft. They also note that you might want to be careful with the cardboard since it's flimsy.
Reviewers do like the variety of supplies and that each day has its own individual activity. They say that the contents are of high quality, which is to be expected of Crayola. And most importantly, the activities entertained their children!
$19.77
If you're looking to treat yourself or someone else to a soothing soak, then Bomb Cosmetics has an advent calendar for you. Their Bomb Calendar features 24 scented fizzy bath bombs and soaps made from all natural ingredients, such as shea and cocoa butter. Each bath bomb is also packed with essential oils.
A few reviewers reported that they were a bit disappointed about the soap to bath bomb ratio. However, many reviewers expressed how much they were excited to open each door, and that each bomb and soap smelled unique.
$38.92
Each box in this advent calendar has a single teabag inside made by the respected English Tea Shop brand. Unlike other brands, these silk pyramid teabags are free of plastic! There is a variety of green, white, and black teas, ensuring there is a blend for everyone.
Reviewers say that although there are 25 boxes, some flavors are repeated. They also note that the teas aren't labeled or easily identified.
However, reviewers enjoy the teas included. They say that these organic teas are of high quality, and they like the variety of interesting flavors. This advent calendar's colorful book-style packaging is also praised since it's solid enough to be reused if needed.
$32.99
This advent calendar contains a variety of items that are all aimed at young girls or any kiddo that loves sparkle and glam. It includes items such as hair accessories, jewelry, makeup, and crafts. There's something different every day! Each door also has a riddle and coloring activity to be completed too.
Reviewers say that this advent calendar is best for younger kids older than six. However, most reviewers report that this advent calendar was a hit. They say that the contents were of good quality, and the variety made opening each door more fun; kids couldn't wait to get their next surprise.
$44.88
This advent calendar features two popular pop culture franchises: Harry Potter and Funko Pops. The calendar has 24 different mini-figures of characters from the Harry Potter franchise, and they can be set up in front of the box, which features a scene of Diagon Alley.
Many reviewers were wary of purchasing this year's calendar because previous editions contained too many repeats. However, they were pleasantly surprised that there were many new characters in this year's calendar. Although there are some duplicate characters, they are in different costumes. Collectors said these are welcome additions to their Harry Potter collection!
$58.48
If you're looking for a Christmas scene, this may be the advent calendar for you! Behind each door is a fully assembled figure that creates a Santa's Workshop scene. As well as Santa and his elves, there are toys, workbenches, and a sleigh.
The advent calendar also doubles as a backdrop for the workshop, giving you both an indoor and outdoor scene to decorate. Plus, these Christmas items are a great way to expand your child's existing Playmobil collection!
Reviewers say that some parts are very small, so it may not be safe for young children due to the possible choking hazard. The manufacturer recommends this item for kids four to 10 years old.
Reviewers love the theme of this advent calendar and how it comes together to create a scene. They are impressed by the quality of the content; some figures move, and there is excellent attention to detail. They also like that the lamp lights up!
$39.99
If you're looking for a fun way to countdown to Christmas each year, this nativity advent calendar will help you create a meaningful Christmas tradition. Each calendar includes 24 stuffed figures in pockets that are added to the scene one by one. You could also opt to insert candy or other treats in the pockets with the figures for a daily treat.
Some reviewers were disappointed that some of the seams frayed after a few uses. However, many reviewers found this calendar sturdy and a great visual for teaching young children about Christmas. They also felt it was a great way to bring the entire family together.
As well as an advent calendar, there are many different ways to prepare for the holidays! There's nothing better for this than eating cookies while watching a festive movie or decorating your house with beautiful Christmas lights.
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