Counting down to Christmas one chocolate at a time has been a longstanding tradition all over the world, with Cadbury capitalising on the craze in 1971 and bringing it to the UK and Ireland.
However, chocolate is not the only thing you can find behind those little festive doors with alternatives filled with everything from tea bags and coffee pods to beauty products and build-a-bears beginning to corner the Christmas calendar market.
So, if you’re fed up with the traditional chocolate treats, why not opt for something different this year? 'Tis the season after all…
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- 10 of the best boozy advent calendars and crackers to bag now
Rituals Classic Advent Calendar, £87.90
@ashleighmoneysaver I found the most gorgeous Advent Calendar from @Boots UK - the @Rituals House of Rituals Advent Calendar is one od my favourites this year and you earn 261 Advantage Card points when you buy it! #boots #bootsuk #bootshaul #bootsnewin #bootsshopping #bootsbeauty #rituals #ritualsadventvalendar #ritualscosmetics #ritualsbeauty #beauty #adventcalendar #beautyadventcalendar #adventunboxing #adventopening ♬ original sound - Ashleigh Money Saver
Designed to resemble their iconic flagship store House of Rituals in Amsterdam, this stylish advent calendar includes 24 body, home and beauty products worth over £120 including four candles for every Sunday of advent. Perfect for those who enjoy or deserve a little luxury over the Christmas period.
Pukka Tea Advent Calendar, £12.99
@isabellasmixingbowl Day 4 Pukka tea advent calendar review - Breakfast Tea ☕ follow for more! #christmas #adventcalendar #pukkaherbs #pukkateaadvent #tea #teatime #teareview #fyp #foryou #foryoupage ♬ Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Michael Bublé
For the devoted tea lover, unwrap a delicious daily surprise that will also keep you warm this winter. Consisting of 24 herbal teas including festive flavours such as cinnamon, orange and elderberry, this advent calendar offers you a chance to relax during a time when everything feels like a rush.
Merry Mission Advent Calendar, Build-A-Bear, £38
@onelove2mj_ WHAT SHOULD WE NAME THEM?! Also what other ADVENT CALENDARS should I get?! #fyp #letsgetintoit #mystery #surprises #unboxing #toytok #plush #babadvent #buildabearadventcalendar #adventcalendar2023 #stuffedanimals #glistenandthemerrymission ♬ som original - nic★
Inspired by the “Glisten and the Merry Mission” movie from Build-A-Bear Entertainment, this advent calendar has a daily surprise waiting behind each door including six mini plush and 19 mini clothing and accessory items.
Joe and Seph’s Gourmet Popcorn Advent Calendar, £25
@offthe_shelf Day 4 of the @joeandseph advent calendar This time Classic Caramel #uksnacks #christmas #chocolate #popcorn #tastetest #review #foodie #uk #fyp ♬ good 4 u - Olivia Rodrigo
Maybe chocolate just isn’t your thing but you’d still like a sweet treat on the run up to Christmas. If that’s the case this popcorn advent calendar is perfect. Containing 24 x 7-gram packs of gourmet popcorn and offering 12 different flavours. All the popcorn is made by hand in the UK, gluten free and suitable for vegetarians – corn you believe it?
Bourbon & American Whiskey Advent Calendar (2023 Edition) Drinks By The Dram, £129.99
Guaranteed to make you merry this Christmas, why not count down the days and tickle your tastebuds with 24 different whiskey samples. Headliners include Four Roses Bourbon, Bulleit 10-Year Old Bourbon, Redwood Empire Pipe Dream Bourbon and Yellowstone Select Whiskey. This seasonal special offers a joyous line-up.
Gramophoe Musical Advent Calendar, Fortnum & Mason, £49.95
Jingle all the way to Christmas with this delightful gramophone musical advent calendar by Alison Gardiner. Enjoy 24 mini vinyl records, each with a different Christmas tune, serving as a perfect build up to the big day.
Porsche 911 Advent Calendar £65
@eriksadventures Finished @porsche ♬ original sound - eriksadventures
Ideal for the DIY or Porsche fanatics this December. In just 24 steps, you can assemble a first-class Porsche panorama with a Porsche 911 model car with a scale of 1:43. A large-format comparison book, written by eminent automobile expert Jurgen Lewandowski, guides you through the history of the Porsche 911, from 1963 to the present day.
Christmas Rubber duck Advent Calendar, Amazon, £5.85
@hollyauna Rubber duck advent calendar day two! #rubberducky #adventcalendar ♬ Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! - Dean Martin
Have a quacking Christmas with this 24-piece rubber duck advent calendar. Not only are these adorable ducks wrapped up for the winter but they’re also safe to use in the bath or swimming pool.
Central Perk 12 Days of Bath Advent Calendar, Amazon, £18.50
@itscaitlinvictoria The Central Perk Friends Advent Calendar!!! This was full of goodies and i definitely think it was worth it!! If you know a fan of Friends, you need to get this for them! It’s on my amazon storefront #friendstvshow #adventcalendaropening #adventcalendars #adventcalendar2023 #centralperk #itscaitlinvictoria ♬ I'll Be There For You (Friends Theme) - Boyce Avenue
Relax over the holiday season with scented bath and body treats. Fans of Friends will love the surprises that are inside this Christmas skincare kit. Could it BE more perfect?
Good Boy Chewy Advent Calendar for Dog, Amazon, £12.50
@pipspets DOG ADVENT CALENDAR #dogadventcalendar #dog #dogs #christmasdog #dogchristmastreats #christmas #fyp #foryoupage #tiktokshop #pets ♬ Christmas song "Let's decorate" - 3KTrack
What could be better than letting your pooch get involved in the festive fun? This luxury advent calendar for your best bud includes 24 chewy treats for them to enjoy.
However, despite being spoiled for choice in relation to alternative advent calendars, with all the mania and mayhem that comes with the merriment, sometimes all you want is a bit of simplicity.
Cadbury Dairy Milk Advent Calendar, Poundland, £2.50
@patshopkeepa Advent Calendars now live on the tiktok shop!! #cadburys #adventcalendar #chocolate #tiktokshop #tiktokmademebuyit #dairymilk ♬ Sleigh Bells (PhatCap! Trap Remix) - Ronettes
An undisputed Christmas classic.
