I love family traditions and having an Advent calendar in December has been one throughout my childhood and one my kids have enjoyed. Advent is a season of the Christian year observed as a time of waiting and preparing for the birth and return of Jesus at the Second Coming. Although we were somewhat religious growing up, in my house the calendar was always just used to track the days until Santa. As with many things, my Advent Calendar experience and my kids’ experience were very different.
Growing up, we got what I will call the “classic” Advent calendar shown below which you can pick up at most drug stores for a couple bucks. It is a large rectangular card with one door for each day between December 1 and the 25th generally in random order. Each day leading up to Christmas, you open a door to find a small gift or treat. The classic calendar has some of the worst chocolate that you have ever tasted but we did not mind because we had no idea what good chocolate was and the fun was looking for the right numbered door and knowing how many days until the guy with the beard arrived.
Classic advent calendars are still widely available at drug or grocery stores but unless you are looking for nostalgia, there are some much better options below. There are two general categories, single-use or reusable, with key differences summarized below.
Reusable
Cost – Costs more upfront but can be cheaper over time if you consider buying them every year for 18+ years. My kids continue to enjoy our Advent calendar (third one below) even though they know they can probably just go into the pantry and find the same chocolates or candy that is in the calendar – it is about the tradition.
Ease of use – You have to/get to fill the calendar depending on how you look at it and can customize the treats.
Variety – less variety since it is the same calendar every year but my kids seemed to enjoy the tradition and would ask specifically for it if I did not put it out by Dec 1 and I enjoy the beautiful design of these calendars.
Single-use
Cost – Cheaper on an annual basis but can add up if you are going to do this every year for 18+ years and remember you will likely need to buy one of these for each kid which can add up.
Easy of use – You do not have to fill it – just buy the calendar and you are good to go.
Variety – the calendar will look different each year which may make it more interesting and there are some fun themed calendars such as Star Wars, Harry Potter, or Thomas the Tank engine that include small themed toys which may be big hits and even one for the dog. Plus, you know I loooove Nightmare Before Christmas from this post so definitely need that one this year!
Reusable
Single-Use
What Christmas, Hanukkah, or other December holiday traditions does your family have? How have they changed from when you were little to now?