Yahoo Finance Forget Chocolate Advent Calendars, Because This Jam Calendar Is All I Want for Christmas
- 1/31
Forget Chocolate Advent Calendars, Because This Jam Calendar Is All I Want for Christmas
There are so many good traditions associated with the holiday season, but one of the all-time best has to be the advent calendar. There's just something about anticipating a new surprise each day — even though it's so small! — that makes the days leading up to Christmas fly by.
Advent calendars originated in Germany around the early 1900s. The OG adventskalender design was paper, often embellished with foil and other sparkly elements, and contained numbered doors hidden within a print of a winter scene. Each door opened to reveal a yuletide image or greeting, and finding the doors was half the fun.
Today, paper and foil have given way to the chocolate advent calendar — and it's not always the best chocolate, either. So many, understandably, have moved on and have found ways to fill their doors and drawers with anything but. Now, you can find a cool advent calendar filled with anything from cute socks to bites of cheese. So, what's your pleasure? Whether you're shopping for kids, adults, men or women, these are the best alternative advent calendars to buy in 2022. (Be warned: Some of these may be appropriate for kids, but some are clearly very adult.)
Hearst Owned - 2/31
1) Limited Edition Mini Fruit Spreads and Honey Advent Calendar
Bonne Maman
amazon.com
$39.99
This one is a sellout every year and, if you’ve ever swiped a gingham-patterned mini jar of Bonne Maman jam from a restaurant table, you know why. This deluxe advent calendar gathers 24 of the little gems in hard-to-find flavors like orange yuzu and grapefruit or strawberry with star anise.
Bonne Maman - 3/31
2) Friends: The Official Advent Calendar
Insight Editions
amazon.com
$19.32
Could this be any more festive? This is the ultimate countdown to Christmas for any Friends fan. Inside, you'll find pockets packed with 40 trinkets and surprises, including themed ornaments and recipe cards. Or if Friends isn't your lobster, you can find similar advent calendars for Harry Potter, Star Wars, Home Alone, Marvel and other pop-culture phenomena.
Insight Editions - 4/31
3) 24 Days of Tea Advent Calendar
Palais du Thé
uncommongoods.com
$36.00
This très chic take on the traditional advent calendar comes from the Parisian company Palais du Thé. Each door contains elegant single-estate or gourmet infusion sachets flavored with elderflower, cranberry and more.
uncommongoods.com - 5/31
4) Hard Seltzer Advent Calendar
Give Them Beer
givethembeer.com
$59.00
Put some "Cheers!" in your Christmas cheer with this set of 12 hard seltzers, some of the top-rated flavors on GiveThemBeer.com's website. Or, if you don't like seltzer, they also have advent calendars for craft beer, canned cocktails, sparkling wine and other libations.
Give Them Beer - 6/31
5) Coffee Advent Calendar
YawnBrew
etsy.com
$47.74
Perk up your dark December days with this calendar, which offers 24 sachets of 18g of coffee each. You can choose from two versions, the standard or the limited-edition pro, which each have different selection of brews. Not a coffee drinker? You can also try Yawn Brew's tea advent calendar or hot chocolate advent calendar.
YawnBrew - 7/31
6) Mini Mani Month 2022
Ciaté London
Ciaté London
$69.00
Go to every holiday event with a different look, thanks to these mini nail polishes. This year marks the calendar's 10th anniversary, so it's sure to include some special items.
Ciaté London - 8/31
7) 12 Nights of Wine Advent Calendar
Vinebox
getvinebox.com
$129.00
You can choose between the "Holi-Day" box or the "'Twas the Night" version of this wine advent calendar. Each collection comes with a mix of white, red and rosé. Can't choose? Get both and you'll snag a discount ($199).
RELATED: Best Wine Advent Calendars
Vinebox - 9/31
8) Fidget Toy Advent Calendar
JOYIN
amazon.com
$21.99
Fidget toys are still all the rage, and if you're always looking for something to do with your hands, this advent calendar might help. Each day brings you something to squish, stretch or pop.
JOYIN - 10/31
9) Wooden Marching Band Advent Calendar
Meri Meri
amazon.com
$52.00
Place one of these wooden, woodland decorations on your mantel each day and, by Christmas, you'll have a whole marching band scene. When it's done, it packs away into a mini suitcase. If you're not into the all-wood look, Meri Meri also has more colorful advent scenes with cats, with dogs and even with dinosaurs!
Meri Meri - 11/31
10) NFL Advent Calendar
Turner Licensing
amazon.com
$9.99
Calling all sports fans! Take a decal from this set and add it to the tree each day, and you'll have a decoration that celebrates your favorite team. After all, once Christmas is over, it's only a hop, skip and a jump to the Big Game. You can also get them for some MLB teams.
Turner Licensing - 12/31
11) Enamel Pin Advent Calendar
PostboxParty
etsy.com
$53.98
This box makes a great gift for teens since it comes chock full of 24 small enamel pins, in shapes that are festive (Santa, Rudolph) and not (cactus, unicorn). You can even personalize the box with a glittery, silvery first name!
PostboxParty - 13/31
12) Classic Advent Calendar
L'Occitane
loccitane.com
$80.00
With this calendar, you get to sample L'Occitane's best-of-the-year products, including verbena cooling hand cream gel, almond shampoo and conditioner, cherry blossom hand cream, citrus shower gel, even a wooden comb! Or, if you've been very good this year, you can upgrade to the premium version ($140), which includes more full-size products.
RELATED: The Best Beauty Advent Calendars
L'Occitane - 14/31
13) Santa Block Countdown Set
The Holiday Aisle
wayfair.com
$40.99
If all you care about is the counting down and you don't want to deal with all the doors and all the stuff, this is the way to go. The blocks have different numbers on each of the faces, so you can keep track of the days until Christmas.
The Holiday Aisle - 15/31
14) 7 Nights of Temptation Lingerie Advent Calendar
Lovehoney
lovehoney.com
$80.00
Count down to Christmas and get your pulse racing at the same time! Lovehoney's lingerie advent calendar comes in both regular and plus sizes, and they also have (NSFW!) calendars for toys you can use in bed, too.
Lovehoney - 16/31
15) 12 Days of Hot Sauce Advent Calendar
World Market
worldmarket.com
$24.99
How brave is your tongue? If you want to put it to the test, try this saucy gift set, which includes flavors like Carolina Reaper, Extra Hot Hot, Cajun and Mango Mild, among others.
World Market - 17/31
16) LEGO Advent Calendar
LEGO
amazon.com
$44.99
If your family loves LEGO, they'll adore this alternative advent calendar. Each day comes with models to build or minifigures to uncover. This year, there are four LEGO advent calendar themes: Star Wars, Harry Potter, LEGO Friends and LEGO City.
LEGO - 18/31
17) Build Your Own Retro Radio Advent Calendar
Haynes
amazon.com
$35.61
For tinkerers, DIYers and those who remember the old FM radio days, this advent calendar gives you a piece every day that you can use to build a working radio. Note: It's intended for builders 14+.
Haynes - 19/31
18) Collection Series Whisky
thespiritco.com
$56.62
If you're into alcohol and spirits, The Spirit Co. has a series of different alcoholic advent calendars that'll let you have tastes of drinks from around the world each night. The Whiskey Collection has 12, 30ml bottles of different whiskies, including some that are aged 8, 12 or even 16 years. Or, if that doesn't appeal, you can get a calendar with rum, gin, cognac, tequila or other liquors.
RELATED: The Best Advent Calendars for Men Who Love Spirits, Movies, Music and More
The Spirit Co. - 20/31
19) Michael Storrings 12 Days of Christmas Puzzle Advent Calendar
Galison
amazon.com
$23.99
The cold, December nights are the perfect time to do a jigsaw puzzle — or 12. This one comes with 12 different 80-piece puzzles, each one featuring a different Michael Storrings's illustration of the season.
Galison - 21/31
20) Rubber Ducks Advent Calendar
JOYIN
amazon.com
$24.99
Surprise you kids every day in December with a new rubber duck they can play with during bath time. This advent calendar comes with 18 Christmas-themed and six novelty ducks to bring some holiday cheer to the tub.
JOYIN - 22/31
21) Yankee Candle Advent Calendar
Yankee Candle
amazon.com
$39.84
Make your house smell like the season with 24 Yankee Candle tea lights, in fragrances like Twinkling Lights, Christmas Cookies and Letters to Santa. For hardcore fans, there's also a larger advent calendar that comes with a jar candle and other bigger items ($104).
Yankee Candle - 23/31
22) Christmas Beard Oil Advent Calendar
The Bearded Man Co.
thebeardedmancompany.com
£32.00
Yes, an advent calendar devoted to beards! This offers 24 days of beard oil, each with a different scent, so you'll be all set for those holiday parties.
The Bearded Man Co. - 24/31
23) Nutcracker Advent Calendar
Rifle Paper Co.
riflepaperco.com
$20.00
This Christmas tree-shaped advent calendar is perfect for fans of the Balanchine ballet and Rifle Paper Co. stationery. It features tiny doors that reveal illustrations of ornaments, angels, snacks and more. There's also a "Night Before Christmas" version.
Rifle Paper Co. - 25/31
24) Amigurumi Advent Calendar
1dogwoof
etsy.com
$25.00
If you know how to crochet, this advent calendar offers 25 patterns for adorable projects. Some are holiday-themed, and others are just cute! You can keep them for yourself, or give them away as stocking stuffers.
1dogwoof - 26/31
25) 12 Beers of Christmas Beer Box
Brewvana
brewvana.com
$95.00
Sample wares from breweries across the United States without leaving your house! This box, which ships in late November, comes loaded with 12 different craft brews.
Brewvana - 27/31
26) "Fizzle All The Way" Bath Bomb Advent Calendar
Spa life
amazon.com
$12.99
No one will complain about bath time when there's a new, festive bath bomb to throw in the water. Bonus: It turns the water different colors, too!
Spa Life - 28/31
27) Reusable Wooden Advent Calendar
BRUBAKER
amazon.com
$46.99
Watch your family's faces and this calendar light up each day, thanks to built-in LED lighting. You can also re-use this one year after year, making it part of your family's tradition.
RELATED: Best Reusable Advent Calendars
Brubaker - 29/31
28) 12 Days of Crystal Magic Self-Care Advent Calendar
Shoppe Geo
worldmarket.com
$34.99
Get started on your New Year's resolution — setting intentions, manifesting — with this advent calendar, which offers 12 days of crystals for journey. Crystals include rose quartz, peach moonstone, citrine, sandstone and others.
Shoppe Geo - 30/31
29) Honey Bee Advent Calendar
Meyer Bees
meyerbees.com
$99.95
This advent calendar is super sweet ... literally! Inside, you'll find a different varietals of honey, along with related products like beeswax candles or honey dippers. You also get information that gives you a behind-the-scenes of the honey-making process. If the 24-day box is too much, there's also a 12-day calendar available ($80).
Meyer Bees - 31/31
30) Countdown to Christmas Wooden Advent Calendar
Melissa & Doug
amazon.com
$28.86
This tree-shaped calendar with magnetic ornaments will keep the kids occupied while you do other holiday prep. Display the tree in a central location and let your little ones decorate it ornament by ornament as they count down the days.
Melissa & Doug
