DEBORAH CROMBIE: As a child, one of my favorite Christmas traditions was the annual trip to the German delicatessen in Dallas for imported German advent calendars. I don't remember that advent calendars were a big thing in America, in those long-ago days. But the German calendars, with their illustrations of cheerful snow-covered Alpine villages, were a much-anticipated treat. Every door or window had a little molded chocolate inside and the tension of waiting to open that December 1st door was almost unbearable.
Now, of course, in the modern era of commercializing everything, advent calendars are a dime a dozen (or a couple of bucks each at Trader Joe's) and most kids have grown up with them. And they have moved way past a little piece of candy for each day. Now you can get everything from tea and coffee to wine, dog treats to Lego, jewelry to skin care, with accompanying price tags that are a wee bit higher than $1.99. Yikes. Here are 59 recommended for this year from Today!
Whatever the price, the thrill is the same!
A few years ago I ordered a whisky tasting calendar, and while it was great fun to open the windows, I have to shamefacedly admit that I've never managed to taste all the little bottles. But you can age scotch, right?
Last year my daughter gave me a calendar from Anthropologie with all sorts of skin-care goodies–and the pretty box made great storage for loose papers on my desk.
But this year I gave in to temptation and ordered the calendar I'd been eyeing for the last couple of years. Made by Diamine, a British ink company, the Inkvent Calendar is a different color each year, with 25 inks (24 tiny bottles, a bigger one for the 25th) that are created just for that year's calendar. (Some of the most popular Inkvent colors are later released in full-sized bottles.) 2023's calendar is purple, my favorite color, and that tipped the scale for me.
Confession: I opened the first window the day the calendar arrived, because I just had to see one of the tiny bottles, but after that I managed to control myself until December 2nd!
So, dear Reds, are advent calendars part of your Christmas? Do you have a favorite? And can you resist the temptation to open a door before December 1st?
RHYS BOWEN: I love them in theory but I have to admit that I forget for several days then open five at once. My favorite has been the Jacquie Lawson calendars that are scenes from bygone eras. I love going into Edwardian houses, solving puzzles and just experiencing that sort of Christmas. When we did a Christmas market tour some towns were an advent calendar with decorated windows of all the houses.
LUCY BURDETTE: If anyone deserves an Advent calendar full of ink bottles, it’s you Debs! I subscribe to a bunch of Parisian newsletters and I saw one last week with astonishing calendars–all too much $$ to spring for. I did order a beautiful red felt calendar from Garnet Hill for our daughter and her family a few years ago. It hangs on the wall and is very festive. The first year I sent her a lot of little things to use in each square but I’ve slacked off since, so it may be causing her more trouble than it’s worth!
HALLIE EPHRON: Advent calendars sound lovely, but growing up, I never saw one, had one, or knew what one. We always had a tree. It was a big deal, going out with my dad on the eve before Christmas eve to find the perfect tree, bring it home, decorate it on Christmas eve, and come down to presents Christmas morning… that was Christmas. All smashed into 3 days. No advent calendars, no preamble.
JENN McKINLAY: I remember having one as a kid and my Mom was very excited about it (I think they were rare in the early seventies) and my brother and I ate all of the chocolate out of it in one day - we were the original Hooligans. Mom was NOT happy and that was the last Advent calendar we ever had. Truthfully, if I had one now I’d probably stress eat all of the chocolate on day one. Some things don’t change and my love for chocolate is one of them.
DEBS: That's so you, Jenn.
HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: We never had one, but I longed for one, yearned for one. I thought it was the most fabulous idea, getting a wonderful little treat every day leading up to the big day. We had to browbeat my parents into celebrating -we’re Jewish, my mother would constantly remind us–but we didn’t care, we demanded a tree and etc. But we never got to have an advent calendar. Hmm. Is it too late to get one now? Could there be one with books? Or wine? Are there any rules?
DEBS: Hank you can get wine!
JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: As many of you will remember, I spent part of my childhood in Germany - in Bavaria, to be exact, arguably the most Christmas-happy part of the country. And yes, we had Advent calendars - the one I recall best had tiny wooden ornaments behind each door. I suspect after one December of hearing my sister and I squabble over who got the chocolate, she went for non-consumable treats.
I love Hank's idea of an Advent calendar with books! Let's got on this!
How about it, readers? Any favorite advent calendars? Did you grow up with them? And who occasionally gives in to the temptation to have an early peek??
P.S. The Diamine Inkvent Calendar is available from most independent pen and stationery stores, but I ordered mine from The Goulet Pen Company, my fave of the online pen stores.
