I have just finished............

I buy a traditional one for me. Kids would just be disappointed though.

Sometimes I don't get round to opening the traditional one for several days.

I've never bought an advent calendar for anyone. DD1 is knitting a miniature toy or bauble for each day in the runup to Christmas. GS gets to hang it on the tree.

I buy all the GC one (actually one per household so they have to take turns!!) and never, ever, ever chocolate ones!

I have to be very careful though that they are not too 'religious' as DD1 is anti any indoctrination! Rather funny really because her eldest [aged 6] is enthralled by the Christmas story but bored by any other religion. She seems to forget that her school had the 'normal' amount of Christian stuff eg Christian assemblies, carol services etc for someone of her generation, and she didn't succumb!

We bought our GD's a wooden one this year from john lewis. It is brightly painted and has little doors to open. My DH and I did joke that he would have to fix the doors on each year as both my GD's are what you might call not very careful (destructive)!! . Do agree though the more simple ones capture
the spirit of christmas. Does anyone remember that??!!

I never ever bought chocolate ones! Both the boys had the traditional ones with festive pictures behind each window. You can still buy really lovely traditional ones, cartoon characters and chocolate are not the only options!

Does anyone remember when there weren't advent calenders with chocolate behind the windows but a nativity scene instead? Canadian and American children don't receive advent calenders,so as a child in Canada my brother and I received one every year from my Mother's cousin. They were usually made in Germany and were absolutely beautiful, each scene beautifully painted and glitter on any snowy scenes. The last scene on the 24th December was the actual manger scene and larger then the previous ones.
We got enormous joy and fun taking turns to open a window throughout December and it really depicted what Xmas was all about.
Now we get Thomas the Tank Engine, or my DGD's favourite Peppa Pig, calenders and chocolate.
I know its bah humbug, my GDs love their calenders but still a shame to lose the beauty of the ones in the past.

I bought them for only a pound each on about the fifth day of advent. So that's ok.

Paid full price for DGS's.

j05 assumming it is not someone else's calendar, you should do what you like! Rules are for those poor souls who have to go to work (assuming you don't?) but for those of us who are now ladies of leisure/kept women there are no rules! I told my son to enjoy his work Christmas party and not to do anything I wouldn't do whilst also reminding him I am growing old disgracefully.

....dancing the Salsa to 'Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle bells rock' at our last dancing class before Christmas.

A great way to start a Monday morning and a fab. tonic.

Granny23 rules that only apply to good grannies, j05 is obviously a very naughty granny who should be ashamed..tsk!

3 what a sweet tooth!! bet you feel sick.

I was under the - obviously mistaken - impression that 'the rules' pertaining to Advent Calendars stated that they were for children and that any such calendars kept in Grannies' houses, should only be opened by the resident Granny on days when no Grandchildren appeared.

stick!