​Plus Your Advent Questions Answered

What is an Advent Calendar? Where do you get one? How can you use an Advent Calendar with your children? I answer your questions about advent calendars and suggest the Best Advent Calendars of 2023.

What is an Advent Calendar?

Advent calendars are used to count the days of Advent to prepare for Christmas. The first date of Advent falls between November 27 through December 3. It begins with a Sunday and runs until Christmas Eve. The modern Advent season is a four-week period leading up to Christmas. These calendars are a great way to celebrate the time period leading up to Christ’s birth. They consist of a small gift that you “open” each day during the season of advent. Each day, your child (or adult) unwraps a gift. These can be a toy, a science experiment, or even Bible verses to help ring in the season. 

What does the word Advent mean?

The word “Advent” means “coming.” It is from the Latin word adventus.

How to use an Advent Calendar?

Whether you’re feeling up to stuffing your own Advent calendar this year, or just want something easy you can pick up and be done with, They’re a great countdown calendar to track how many days until Christmas or Christmas Eve, and each day can be filled with fun treats! If you’re looking for a great Advent calendar for your family, you don’t have to go into a store! In fact, all of these can be purchased online and be delivered right to your door! Here are the best Advent Calendars on the web created to give you a fun way to countdown to Christmas.

While the Advent celebration for the Christian world is about preparing for the birth of Christ, many people have taken on the season before Christmas or Hanukkah to give daily surprises, sweet treats, or a daily special gift to their children or loved ones. And many people opt to start Advent or their advent calendar on the first day of December.

In fact, traditional Advent celebrations do not actually begin on December 1st, but according to the Christian church, Advent begins on a Sunday in late November or early December. Many Christian calendars consist of mangers, Jesus, Mary, Joseph, shepherds, angels, and animals found in the first Christmas manger. 

Types of Advent Calendars

Additionally, there are many modern advent calendars such as the Aldi Advent Calendars or Wine Advent Calendars. Long-lasting wooden advent calendars are popular because you don’t have to buy a new one each year. Many current-day versions have Santa Claus and reindeer or popular toy advent calendars are filled with the latest craze such as Pokemon or Star Wars.

Furthermore, there are tea calendars, a beauty calendar filled with products available for both men and women, Lego calendars, a hot sauce of the day, and calendars that cry, talk, walk, blink and run a temperature (If you know, you know). It is easy to make your own calendar and fill it yourself, but it can be time-consuming.

So for the purpose of this post, we will focus on store-bought designs, both filled and unfilled.

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Affiliate, I do earn from qualifying purchases.

WHEN IS ADVENT?

Before you go out and buy or make an Advent Calendar, you need to know when Advent is. Technically, Advent begins on the Sunday that falls between November 27 and December 3 each year. If you are using an Advent Wreath, there are many different options to choose from. But if you are using a Countdown to Christmas Day calendar, many people opt to begin on December 1.

THE BEST STORE BOUGHT ADVENT CALENDARS

There are wooden calendars with little doors that you fill yourself. Additionally, I have calendars with candy and toys for children, and I have even included options for adults to enjoy the Advent season too.

1. Byers’ Choice Christmas Tree Advent Calendar

The Byers’ Choice Christmas Tree Calendar is wooden with 24 numbered drawers that can be filled with treats. This adorable tree stands 20” tall.

2. Byers’ Choice Christmas House Advent Calendar

This Christmas House Advent Calendar is 22” tall and can be filled with your choice of candy or treats.

3. Lindt Teddy Sleigh Advent Calendar

This adorable Santas Sleigh Advent Calendar measures 19″ X 13.5”, and comes prefilled with Lindt chocolates.

4. Wooden Gingerbread Countdown Christmas Calendar

This adorable wooden gingerbread house Advent Calendar has to be the best one out of all the wooden ones. I am partial to gingerbread houses, but this one is absolutely adorable and is on my Christmas wish list. Open small doors each day to reveal a surprise. (Not filled)

5. Zcaukya Christmas Advent Calendar, Pre-lit LED Wooden Reindeer Christmas Advent Calendar with 24 Drawers, 24 Days Christmas Countdown Calendar

Adorable Pre-lit with lights features Wooden Reindeer.. This timeless Advent calendar is a hit because it is a show stopping decoration. The LED lights make this one a decoration that you will use for years to come even if you don’t “do Advent calendars.” This is definitely a piece you will hang onto for the grandkids!

6. Kurt Adler Wooden Snowman Calendar

This is an Advent Calendar with a twist. Countdown to Christmas with a tree you decorate. Each day, place a new ornament on the wooden tree until you hit Christmas. Fun activity for young and old alike.

7. Byers’ Choice Nativity Advent Calendar

This beautiful display piece is an amazing Nativity Scene, but behind each hidden door you can put chocolate, candies, toys or even a written message. Each day gives you the perfect opportunity to discuss the real meaning of Christmas – the birth of Christ.

8. Funko Advent Calendar Harry Potter

While I am not a fan of Harry Potter (shocking gasp), I know that many of my readers are. This Funko Pop Harry Potter December activity features a different figure every day!

9. Disney Storybook Collection Advent Calendar

Read a story about your favorite Disney characters each day leading up to Christmas. Includes the following characters: Mickey Mouse, Belle, Cinderella, Peter Pan, Winnie the Pooh, and more from your favorite Disney movies and Disney tales you love!

10. PLAYMOBIL Advent Calendar Pirate Treasure Cove

PLAYMOBIL offers several different versions to countdown to Christmas, and each one is designed to delight your child!

11. Hatchimals Colleggtibles Exclusive Characters Accessories

Perfect for the Hatichimal fan in your life.

12. JOYIN Christmas Countdown Calendar Animal Figures

Animal characters will delight both young and old.

13. Rocks and Mineral Advent Calendar

Designed for that rock and mineral lover in your life.

14. Hershey Candy Advent Calendar

Who doesn’t love Chocolate? I would personally love this calendar!

15. Godiva Holiday Chocolate Calendar

If your taste is a little more expensive than M&M’s, check out Godiva gourmet chocolates! Hide this one from the kids!

16. Organic Tea 24 Varieties

Tea lovers will enjoy having a different type of tea each day. This countdown to Christmas features organic, herbal teas that are sure to delight your senses. Pukka’s non-chocolate Advent calendar has flavors such as lemongrass & ginger, mint refresh, English breakfast, wild apple & cinnamon, and more flavors that will enhance the holiday season.

17. Wind Up Toys Advent Calendar Gifts

While not an actual countdown to Christmas, these wind-up toys are perfect to just leave by your child’s cereal bowl each morning! Imagine their delight in seeing a new wind-up toy each day!

18. Gnome Countdown to Christmas Calendar

Gnomes are all the rage this year! This unique countdown to Christmas calendar will be used for years to come.

19. Nativity Magnetic Advent Calendar

Our family has a Nativity Magnetic countdown that we have used for years. My grandkids love it too. From the first lamb to when baby Jesus is placed, each day offers a “reason for the season.”

20. Bonne Maman Spreads

The spreads will delight you each day. Ranging from Raspberry Chocolate, Caramel Cinnamon and Honey.

21. The Story of Christmas Advent Books

Each day read a story telling the Christmas Story. From the angel visiting Mary to the 3 Wise men these books double as “ornaments” to hang on your tree.

24 Days of Friends Advent Calendar Socks TV Show

I happen to know several people that would love this type of Advent calendar celebrating the cult classic Friends Show with Chandler, Joey, Phoebe, Rachel, Ross, and Monica.

Pokemon Advent Calendar

Features all your favorite Pokemon characters including Pikkachu, Charmander, and Jiggly Puff.

Jesus Storybook Bible Advent Activities Book

This book has 24 guided crafts with songs and hands-on activities. Easy to make and fun for the whole family with a focus on the birth of Jesus Christ.

The History of the Advent Calendar

The tradition of Advent calendars dates back to the 19th century. German protestants would mark their doors with chalk marks or light candles to count the days leading up to the big day – Christmas. However, eventually, Advent calendars became printed. German publisher Gerhard Lang is thought to have created the first printed Advent calendar in the 1900s. It was based on one his mother had made and had 24 pictures attached to a piece of cardboard. This family was creating Pinterest-worthy projects well before their time. Lang included “little doors” on his. However, during World War II, production ceased due to a cardboard shortage.

Other first Advent calendars included a German newspaper printing a calendar to insert as a gift to the readers.

The World’s Largest Advent Calendar

According to the Guinness World Records, the world’s largest Advent calendar was built in 2007. It measured 232 feet, 11 inches tall, and 75 feet, 5 inches wide. It was built at St. Pancras train station in London and celebrated the reopening of the train station.

What is the most expensive Advent Calendar?

Currently, the most expensive Advent calendar is Debbie Wingham’s Custom Calendar. It was designed for a Swiss family for $10.3 million and includes designer watchers and artwork. 

Richard Sellmer Verlag

Richard Sellmer Verlag is the only publishing house in Germany that exclusively publishes Advent calendars. In fact, these paper calendars began to be published in 1946 after World War II. While German families enjoyed this tradition, President Dwight D. Eisenhower is credited with making these calendars popular in the United States. Additionally, these calendars produced in Germany are based on some older designs.

Other Ways to Celebrate Advent

Giving unique Advent calendars to your children or significant other seems like a sweet way to celebrate the season. However, remember that you can select different ways to celebrate without spending money and giving gifts daily.

Performing random acts of kindness for strangers or family members each day of December can teach your children much more about the reason for the season than giving them a toy each day. However, there is nothing that says you cannot do both. Celebrate with your children and teach them at the same time.

For more Christmas content, check out the following posts:

Advent Wreaths to Make for $10 or Less

How to Avoid Overspending at Christmas

The Best Christmas Books to Read to Kids