2024 Advent Calendar Review!
The holiday season is approaching much too quickly for me, but at least we have advent calendars to look forward to! This year is a special year because Hannukah begins on December 25th, so just about any advent calendar can also be used to count down to either Hannukah or Christmas. While it’s true that most advent calendars are Christmas-themed, there are enough “neutral” or winter themes that they could be used for Hannukah, as well. And Williams Sonoma even has an 8-day calendar that would make a great first night of Hannukah gift, so be sure to check them out for extra options.
See’s Candies’s 2024 Advent Calendar celebrates the legacy of its founder, Mary See, featuring a beautifully-illustrated depiction of her kitchen, where See’s Candies was born. The calendar has shimmering gold foiling and, my favorite, a magnetic closure. Inside the pull-out drawers, you’ll find delightful candy surprises, from truffles to Lollypops and more; individually wrapped pieces; and even an exclusive treat you’ll only find in the advent calendar!
https://www.amazon.com/Sees-Candies-Christmas-Advent-Calendar/dp/B0DKGDQ2XT
Two of our favorite Insight Editions advent calendars are back. Books are Magic Advent Calendar and Elf advent calendar are extra-large bifold calendars with 25 windows full of fun! If you are a pop culture fan, check out all of the Insight Edition advent calendars, including Wicked; Beetlejuice; Gilmore Girls; House of Dragons; and more! #gifted
https://www.amazon.com/Books-Are-Magic-Advent-Calendar/dp/B0CTYHGLYM/
https://www.amazon.com/Elf-Official-Calendar-Insight-Editions/dp/B0C4JQ6418/
Laduree’s 2024 advent calendar’s is available now and is just as lovely as last year’s. Each number conceals a delicious treat (including chocolate pearls, candied fruits, caramel, jams, and more) and the whole family will be clamoring to reveal them. This calendar has 25 boxes and is Christmas-themed in a cream-colored box with blue and gold baubles. The interior is cream as well with gold Christmas trees and pull-out drawers for each advent treat.
Quarto Kids has a Little People, Big Dreams advent calendar this year, with miniature versions of their best-selling biographies. “From childhood dreams to lifetime achievements,” these biographies honor outstanding people, from designers and artists, to scientists and activists.
https://www.amazon.com/Little-People-BIG-DREAMS-Collection/dp/1836000812/
Playmobil has two new advent calendars this year: Trip to the Christmas Market and Playmobil Junior Snowy Christmas. The Trip to the Christmas Market is full of charming details, like the little cuffs for the sweater sleeves. It truly looks like a German Christmas market with gingerbread hearts on strings and a skating rink for chilly winter fun. Snowy Christmas has Playmobil Junior pieces, including children, Santa, and woodland creatures. My favorite detail is the footprint pieces that show the type of animal that made them on the reverse of the disk. #gifted
https://www.amazon.com/Playmobil-Advent-Calendar-Christmas-Market/dp/B0CRHXFQ8P/
https://www.amazon.com/Playmobil-Junior-Advent-Calendar-Christmas/dp/B0845D24Q8/
Sugarfina has two gorgeous advent calendars this year, each of which includes gummies, chocolates, and lots of little treats for your family to share. We can’t decide if we prefer the Gingerbread House or the Hello Kitty Wreath. Should we get both?
SUGARFINA GINGERBREAD
https://www.amazon.com/Sugarfina-Tastes-Christmas-Advent-Calendar/dp/B0BMWGCM46/
SUGARFINA HELLO KITTY
https://www.amazon.com/Sugarfina-Hello-Kitty-Tasting-Collection/dp/B0DJDWL73H/
Thames & Kosmos’s Exit the Game Advent Calendar: The Missing Hollywood Star. This is Thames & Kosmos’s fourth Exit the Game Advent Calendar and they get better every year. Each day has a puzzle that leads you to the next day’s puzzle to solve, following a storyline where the solver tracks down a missing moviestar. I’ve reviewed their Hunt for the Golden Book and The Silent Storm versions, if you’d like a review of these calendars. (Spoiler Alert: I love them!) We’ll be posting a review of Exit the Game Advent Calendar: The Missing Hollywood Star soon, as well. Thames and Kosmos also has Science Advent Calendars, so check those out, too. #gifted
https://www.amazon.com/EXIT-Calendar-Hollywood-Christmas-Activity/dp/B0CRHWGGQ9/
https://www.amazon.com/Thames-Kosmos-Experiments-Chemistry-Celebrations/dp/B0CW7443Y3/
Williams Sonoma offers a wide variety of advent calendars. Among many different themed calendars, my favorite is the . There are two that could be used for Hannukah: The La Maison du Chocolat advent calendar is shaped like a star and is covered in gold stars on a navy blue background. It’s a bit of a stretch, but it’s full of La Maison du Chocolat chocolates. The Bridgerton Tea Time Tales has 8 doors, so could definitely be used for Hannukah. There is also their new Hannukah-themed 8-night countdown calendar.
https://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/la-maison-du-chocolat-advent-calendar/
https://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/bridgerton-8-day-countdown-calendar/
https://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/hanukkah-advent-calendar/
Craving chocolate every day? Neuhaus has three different advent calendars to choose from this year, each with a delicious chocolate treat behind its windows. The Sharing Calendar has enough treats to share in each window (or enough for a sweet indulgence for yourself, if you’re not inclined to share chocolate). It’s a box that opens into a beautiful Christmas city scene. The Pop-Up Calendar rests flat on your table and the top opens to reveal a house, decorated for Christmas and every day, as you open the windows, the scene builds into a winter wonderland in the front yard. The Classic Calendar is inside the home and shows the family preparing for Christmas, decorating, baking, etc.
https://www.amazon.com/Neuhaus-Belgian-Chocolate-Pop-up-Calendar/dp/B0DHW5MSCH
https://www.amazon.com/Neuhaus-Belgian-Chocolate-Classic-Calendar/dp/B0DHW71PG6/
Schylling has a NeeDoh advent calendar. NeeDoh are soft, squishable sensory toys. The packaging is very neon-bright 70s cool, but the toys come in a variety of shades and shapes. They can be used in play, for stress relief, even for decoration. With 24 windows of mini NeeDoh figures, there are plenty for all options.
https://www.amazon.com/Schylling-NeeDoh-Squishmas-Advent-Calendar/dp/B0CVDTVFP9/
For a digital advent treat, follow Jack Yeo (@jackryeo) on Twitter (aka X). He has created a month-long trivia advent calendar based on Danny Dyer’s game show “The Wall.” Every day brings either a question to answer or a strategic decision to make. And, yes, there is a wall with ball drops! The aim of the game is to make as much (fictional) money as possible, but be warned, your winnings can swing up AND down dramatically over the course of the month! I’ve never won, but I have loved playing every year
Disclosure: This post includes my affiliate links, time to buy Advent Calendars! Some of the above items that were sent to us for inclusion here, they are notated with #gifted at the end of their description.
Leave a Reply