Wide variety of options: From vegan-friendly to nostalgic retro sweets, our collection caters to everyone's preferences. Or perhaps you simply feel like doing something special for your family, and you’d rather choose for yourself how to surprise those you love most. When you start an Advent calendar depends on the type you have. Most Advent calendars either have 12 or 24 numbered slots. Some also have 25. If there are 24 or 25 slots, the calendar would begin on December 1 and end on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day (the 24th or 25th). While there are lots of advent calendar gift ideas in this article that DON’T involve candy, we thought we’d start with the classics. At their inception, Advent calendars were used to count down the four-week period preceding Christmas. Though they began as a religious tradition, today they are used to also celebrate the anticipation and joy of the holiday season with a surprise behind each door or window of the calendar.

At SoSweet, we pride ourselves on offering a unique, high-quality selection of Advent Calendars that cater to all tastes. Here's why you should choose us: Perhaps you’re not a fan of the ingredients that go into the tiny chocolates in store-bought calendars (or your kids have food intolerances like ours do, and they can’t eat them anyway).Traditionally, this type of calendar marks the days of Advent in the Christian faith and counts down to Christmas on December 25th. Advent calendars have grown in popularity over the years, and people of various faiths can enjoy them, though they may be referred to as “countdown” calendars instead of “Advent.” For example, there are Hanukkah calendars and Yule calendars.

Board game pieces (spread out the pieces and play the game together once all of them have been collected)It’s that time of year again—the time to put up the Christmas lights, decorate the tree and blast Christmas carols on the radio because it’s finally considered “acceptable” (even though you actually play them year-round).

Whatever the reasoning, if you’re sitting there wondering, “What can I put in my homemade advent calendar?” and no ideas spring to mind, we’ve got you covered. Miniature hair brush (consider getting a Wet Brush Pro if your toddler’s hair is difficult to untangle) Admittedly we’ve broken the law by opening them before December, but how else were we going to do it? Our waistlines are proof of how seriously we take the job. Whether you’re a mature cheese connoisseur or helpless marshmallow addict, you’re sure to find something here to see you through December in delicious style. Both of Moo Free’s chocolate alternative advent calendars contain their much-loved free-from chocolate, which is made using organic cocoa beans and, you guessed it, no milk or dairy products! Their milk and white chocolate alternatives are a real treat, that will only add value to your shelves.Carrie Honaker is a food writer who loves surprises, especially when they are chocolate. As a restaurateur and avid home cook, she has made her fair share of chocolate confections for the holidays. Her work has appeared in many publications, including Bon Appetit, Allrecipes, and Wine Enthusiast. Do you have a baby, toddler, preschool-aged or elementary school-aged boy or girl living at home? Whether you’re looking for baby advent calendar fillers or advent calendar ideas for older kids, you’ll definitely find what you’re looking for in this list!

It includes items for every budget, ranging from handwritten notes to inexpensive dollar store ideas to cheap (and not-so-cheap) electronics for teenagers and adults. What do you fill a DIY advent calendar with? Chocolates and candy, of course—or perhaps some healthy alternatives like nuts or herbal tea sachets! But if you’re looking to surprise your preteen, teenager, college-aged son or daughter, or romantic partner (whether they’re a new girlfriend/boyfriend or a longtime wife or husband), here are some gifts ideas that are a little more “grown up”! Food & Drinks Travel game set (choose a small set or spread out the pieces of a larger one over several days or weeks and play the game together once all the pieces have been collected!)Labelling this calendar as merely a ‘gift’ would be doing it a disservice. It’s a time capsule, a portal to shared memories, perhaps even reminiscent of schoolyard trades involving gummy bears and cola bottles. It's the perfect surprise for a friend who boasts of having it all, the family member with that ever-present sweet craving, or even as a corporate gift to add a touch of sweetness to professional ties. In Western tradition, there are four Sundays during Advent leading up to Christmas, but Advent has morphed to cover the first 24 days of December whether it is four Sundays or not. Following modern practices, you should open your first window or door on December 1, depending on the calendar you choose. Puzzle pieces (choose a small puzzle or spread out the pieces of a larger one over several days or weeks and make the puzzle together once all the pieces have been collected) Delight your taste buds with our Haribo Sweets Advent Calendar, which offers a vibrant array of fruit-flavoured, sour, and spiced gummies that are sure to excite your senses. 3. Cadburys Chocolate Advent Calendar