There is no better way to countdown to the holiday season than with the best Christmas advent calendars. From sweet treats to tiny trinkets, advent calendars are a delightful way to mark the days to Christmas. There's an advent calendar for everyone, according to their favorites, from candy to candles, and taking into account their interests from general to niche. We've rounded up 15 exciting and unique options, and finish off with ideas to make your own advent calendar, if you're up for the task.
However you celebrate Christmas, go all out with Christmas basket Ideas for a lovely themed gift set or share a sweet note with these Christmas card ideas for well-wishes and gratitude.
Christmas advent calendar ideas
For Chocolate Lovers
Indulgent milk, dark, and white chocolates from Belgian chocolatier Neuhaus pop up each day to create a charming holiday scene.
For Candy Lovers
This sweet treat is the definition of making merry, and an adorable display to use once the Advent is complete.
For Unique Sweet Treats
Filled with 24 days’ worth of caramel candies, nougats, flavored chocolates, jam, and calissons from the Parisian landmark, we'd love this accompanied by a box of macarons.
For the Foodie
This mammoth setup will delight all the senses, featuring 24 of Harry & David's most popular sweet, salty and savory snack items, with plenty of delights to share, or claim for yourself.
For the Gourmet Connoisseur
Take it up a notch with 24 of Chuck Williams' all-time favorite seasonings, sweets, condiments and cookware-inspired ornaments. This is an all-star box of life's little luxuries with treats from Bonne Maman jam to L'Estornell olive oil.
For the Wine Lover
A mini-bottle of internationally-sourced wine awaits you each day in the lead up of to Christmas, complete with a half bottle of fine Prosecco to toast two on Christmas Eve.
For self-care devotees
Featuring 25 bestselling seasonal scents and favorite wellness minis worth over $358 in this impeccably curated box, including two-full sized candles.
For Scent Fiends
Volsupa's Japonica set features 12 2.5 oz. candles, each with a 25-hour burn time and in the prettiest keepsake box!
For Something a Little Sparkly
Five days straight of new jewels? What could be better? Personalize what you or your recipient will receive, across three tiers, with a value of up to $530.
Pros
For Coffee Lovers
Start the mornings leading up to Christmas with coffee hand-selected from the best specialty coffee roasters in America, presented in a lovely storybook-style format. Choose your preference of ground or whole bean
For Tea Afficionados
And for those whose morning beverage of choice is tea, you can try a new tea each day, with a selection of herbal infusions, black teas, green teas and Rooibos from the fine French tea company.
For Cozy Sipping
For the kids, or the kids at heart, a hot cocoa a day keeps the doctor away... isn't that how the saying goes? This box includes 24 traditional and unique flavor profiles to explore like Cocoa Biscuit, Candy Cane, Pumpkin Spice, Enchanted Forest, Cinnamon Roll, Banana Lama, Mince pie and many more.
For the Wellness Devotee
Pamper the mind and the body with 24 mini and full-sized goodies and daily mindfulness prompts. Most notably, the box includes a 1 year Alo Moves Subscription and a $25 Alo gift card, totaling nearly $700 in value.
For the Puzzler
These 12 artfully illustrated 80-piece puzzles are a great daily activity to do as a group or solo, and perfect for all ages.
For the Crafter
Everyday is an excuse to be creative, and this set offers the surprise of exploring various mediums, tools, and surfaces each day to work with new and familiar art supplies. Each calendar also includes the chance to find one of six "Golden Tickets" to win a Year of Art Supplies.
What is an advent calendar?
An advent calendar counts down the days to Christmas and is a joyous way to spend the entire month of December getting into a festive mood. It's typically observed with a small item, or traditionally a devotional phrase, concealed and unwrapped each day.
How to make an advent calendar
If you want to get creative, you can make your own advent calendar and fill it with personalized goodies for your loved ones. Craft your own, or invest in a reusable calendar design that you can use year after year, and start a new tradition. Many are every bit worthy of being displayed throughout the month among your favorite Christmas decor. It can center around a theme, or simply the recipient's favorite things, like candy, snacks, candles, pens, beauty products, jewelry, toys, collectibles, and ornaments, the sky is the limit.
This charming Advent Calendar inspires wonder to take in all the little details, and is made of handpainted plywood, lights up, and can play "Deck the Halls"
Tuck petite goodies in this whimsical felt countdown calendar, handcrafted by artisans in Nepal.
Pay homage to the Nutcracker, with drawers to fill of varying sizes.
