The holiday season is upon us, and with it comes the magic of Christmas. One delightful tradition that adds to the anticipation and excitement leading up to the big day is the Advent calendar. In this blog post, we’ll delve into the origins of this charming custom, explore the reasons behind its enduring popularity, and uncover the joy it brings during the festive season.
The concept of counting down the days until Christmas dates back to the 19th century in Germany. Early Advent calendars were simple chalk marks on doors or lit candles, marking each day with anticipation. The first printed Advent calendar, as we know it today, emerged in the early 20th century. Originally created by Gerhard Lang, a German printer, these calendars featured small pictures that children could affix to the calendar each day.
Over time, the tradition spread across Europe and eventually worldwide, evolving into the colorful, interactive calendars we see today. Modern Advent calendars can take various forms, from traditional paper versions with small doors concealing treats to more contemporary ones with pockets, drawers, or even digital renditions.
What makes Advent calendars so enchanting? The answer lies in the joyous anticipation they bring to both children and adults alike. Opening a door or uncovering a surprise builds excitement and adds a touch of magic to the holiday season. It’s not just about the treats hidden behind each compartment; it’s the shared experience of counting down together, creating lasting memories and traditions for families.
Here is a compilation of Advent Calendars I have been eyeing on:
1. Krasloten
I have been doing this for two years in a row. Krasloten are scratch cards in the Netherlands. I got hooked on it during the pandemic. Don’t worry; I don’t go crazy and blow off our money on Krasloten. I only allot €2-3 per week. Fortunately, I was able to win back the cost of the advent calendar but I am hopeful to win big every year. This year they added a new calendar with a higher pot money of €300,000.
So for this year, I have three advent calendars from Krasloten. Wish me luck in winning back at least the money I used to buy them (and a bit more please..)
2. Chocolates
Chocolates are the most common type of Advent Calendar that you can find here in the Netherlands. The variety is massive, from cheap ones (€1 calendar) to artisanal (aka expensive) chocolates, you are spoilt with choices.
Almost all big brands of chocolate companies have their own Advent Calendars every Christmas i.e Lindt, Kinder, Milka, etc… The more expensive Chocolate Advent Calendars can be found in de Bijenkorf.
For this year, I bought the Advent Calendar from a local brand of chocolates, Tony Chocolonely. I also bought the Toblerone Advent Calendar as well.
3. Tea and Koffie
Coffee and Tea Advent Calendars are a hit, especially this winter season when everyone is craving a warm drink. The few that I have seen on the shelves are the advent calendars from Pukka Tea, Pickwick, and Kusmi.
For coffee, you might have to look deeper. Coffee Beans are the norm from local stores and can be found on Amazon. I spotted a LO’R Nespresso Advent Calendar last year, so that is where I started. I searched online and found an online store selling Coffee Advent Calendars that range from beans, Nespresso Capsules, and even the Dolce Gusto ones. I ordered one from Kaffekapslen, along with other capsules that are hard to find in the supermarkets like Costa Coffee, and some flavored ones too.
4. Skincare
I’ve always wanted a Korean skincare Advent Calendar because I know I’ll be getting nice products even simple products like cleansers or toners. I found two online from YesStyle and Little Wonderland. I was late for pre-order, and when I was about to buy them it was sold out already. Maybe for next year…
I was hesitant to buy other skincare advent calendars because I found them not worth the money. When my original plan of buying a Korean skincare advent calendar failed, I took my time to think thoughtfully about which one I wanted among the local ones. I was deciding between Douglas (the red box) and Kiehls. When I was about to buy the Douglas one, it was also sold out. Maybe it wasn’t meant to be… T_T
5. Make up and Beauty
Beauty brands also jumped on the bandwagon of producing Advent Calendars. The selection may not be that appealing or even too expensive, but I still took the time to research them. Some of the ones I found were the de Bijenkorf Beehive, Douglas Red Advent Calendar, and Advent Calendars from Mac, NYX, Maybelline, Loreal, Essence, Rituals, and so on and so forth…
Do you like Advent Calendars?
What is your favorite Advent Calendar?
Share it in the comments below so I can also check it out!
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