Advent calendars

I've just had a quick Google. Yes, the advent calendar did originate in Germany. But Advent has always been a huge event here anyway.

We had advent calendars when we were young so they are not new. I hate the gimmicky ones for children (including chocolate) and always buy them traditional ones.

On holiday in Germany three years ago I saw a Christmas Shop. In the window stood an enormous Advent Calendar Dolls House. It was magnificent.......and so was the price.

I made my own advent calendar last year with little pockets for each numbered day. We either pop in a chocolate or a written message/promise..........something like: 'coffee is on me next time we go out' or 'I'm baking your favourite cake today'. It's all a bit of fun and when we know the GC are coming we ensure there's more than one sweet treat in each pocket.

I love Advent calendars. Our one is 24 little handmade stockings on a silky cord which I entwine with holly, ivy and lights up the banister rails. I put chocolate coins in them, but as our GC don't visit during Advent we eat them ourselves!

I also make and sell advent calendars, made like a quilt with good size pockets. I'm just about to start another one.

I recently saw a beautiful Advent candle that really tempted me, but I know I would never remember to light it each day.

I used to buy Advent candles. Until the year I lit one in mid December, nodded off and woke up to find it was Christmas Eve.

I just buy the chocolate a day calendars for everyone now. Where’s Wally from M & S this year for the DGC and Hotel Chocolat for the adults. Plus the M & S beauty calendar, just for me.

? Maggie re Christmas Eve.

I’m buying a dinosaur advent calendar for my GS in Australia.

I bought my two adult children a cheese one each a couple of years ago, my son just scoffed it all over a couple of days!
GC’s get chocolate ones, I buy myself an old fashioned one, with glitter and festive pictures behind the windows.

When our children were small I bought an Advent calendar and an Advent candle. The candle burned while the bedtime story was read and the child who hadn’t opened the window on the calendar got to blow out the candle. Saved a lot of argument.

It's the beauty ones which always have me gobsmacked - I have a friend whose husband gets her one every year, and they cost several hundred pounds!

Judging by the massive delivery yesterday, I’m getting a huge beauty advent calendar from the spouse… advantage of being two women is that she’ll clearly make off with some of it, though!

I still love the old fashioned, little pictures one, and buy myself one every year. Never had them as kids. Usually buy one for Gdcs, too.

Two years ago I knitted one for Gdcs, 24 pockets, each with a little knitted decoration for the tree, knitted backing mounted on heavy card. It’s huge, but hangs nicely on the back of a door. Major project which I only started in the September so talk about a rush to get it finished for 1st December!

I only like the traditional ones with the little pictures. The old German printed ones are my favourites. We can usually track one down round about now.

My mum is German so we always had the traditional German advent calendars as children. I have two brothers and we took it in turns to open the doors and it was so exciting! I still love the old-style calendars and try and track one down every year. My mum has kept some old calendars and brings one out at Christmas.

We used to have advent calendars when we were little. They are one of my favourite parts of Christmas...the anticipation is wonderful. I much prefer the old-fashioned ones with little pictures.

You can buy them now for cats and dogs. I know that sounds barmy but bought one last year for our pup and she loved it.

Did you open your presents the next morning, Maggiemaybe?

I am a traditionalist and only buy picture advent calendars. (Yes, my adult DD’s still demand that I buy them one each year.) I went mad and bought a chocolate one, one year, but the choc was horrible so that added grist to my mill. Last January I spotted that my local independent book shop was selling off their Xmas stock cheaply and I bought some beautiful calendars very cheaply. I even put them away somewhere I’ve remembered! ?

I like those picture ones too. I found such a thing as a Christmas card too that I have sent to people in previous years. You have to post them early though!

A few years ago I came home from work to find my DH had
got me one of the felt type calendars that you fill yourself. It was a total surprise. Usually it’s filled with chocolate.
A couple of times he has also bought me a Yankee Candle calendar including last week in readiness. I think they are my favourite and better for my figure than chocolate ?

I wasn’t quick enough to take advantage of that excuse, SueDonim.

Reading through this thread has made me nostalgic for the old picture Advent calendars. I see that Ocado has some nice ones on offer. Perhaps I’ll go back to them next year.

I've always bought the chocolate advent calendars in the past for everyone but have never had one myself so this year, whilst idly paging through the latest wine brochure from Laithwaites, I just happened to mention it and "suggested" to DH that we have a treat and try their wine advent calendar. Guess what arrived yesterday ? It has small bottle of champagne included for Christmas Eve too so really looking forward to 1st December ? ?

I’ve just bought a cheese one to give my sister for her birthday this week. She’s got a few weeks to wait before starting it but I know she will be patient and only open one window a day. It appears to have either cheese, chutney or crackers in each window so she will have to wait even longer if she wants a proper taste.

She will have to hide it from her husband though. During the first lockdown a friend arranged a cheese and wine tasting evening and had everything deliver to a few couples. When they sat down to Zoom and learn about the wines etc, my sister found that her hubby had scoffed all the cheese!

I don't mind the chocolate ones, but do love just the picture ones. I remember as a child the anticipation of opening the double doors on Christmas Eve and seeing the bright Nativity scene. Happy memories.

I’m intrigued about the cheese Advent calendar. I do love a bit of cheese, but wouldn’t it have to be kept in the fridge? There wouldn’t be room for it in mine in the run up to Christmas.

Witzend hi there I’m anything but a traditionalist, last year I was given the most beautiful advent Calendar filled with lovely cosmetics and smellies, each day was a delightful surprise. Wonder what’ll be in it this year? I’m getting excited at the thought, easy pleased I am. Whatever’s in the calendar I’ll be only too pleased. I’ll get back to focusing on the real reason for the Calendar

I've just bought my daughter and son's girlfriend the Ciate nail varnish advent calendar, on offer at £35 on MSE.

Sad to see such a lovely old tradition so commercialised.