Haters of advent calendars with chocolate or toys in ....

[nappyaddict]

Would you agree/disagree with one of those advent calendars with pockets that you could put tree decorations or tree chocolates in and every day you have to hang one on the tree?

[TheOne]

I hate them.

[MermaidSpam]

What's wrong with them?

[MitchyInge]

we have one of those everlasting ones with pockets, although it is getting pretty shabby now - I put sweets and chocolates in it anyway, but the big favourite is a ceramic calendar that gradually tells the story of The Snowman

[TheOne]

I find those chocolate filled ones a bit tacky. I do have a pocketed one with a wooden Christmas tree to place in the pockets, but I usually forget to get it out/move the marker until Christmas eve!!!

[Meglet]

The only true advent calendar is a paper one with windows . None of this flashy chocolate or mini present nonsense thank you very much!

[MermaidSpam]

Meglet - but only if they have naff 80s pictures behind the doors!

[Sixer]

I really can't believe you are having this conversation at this this of year! you're bonkers surely? But it would have to be one of those cheap ones, from Lidl that Granny gets every year and sends the DC bonkers. So i've learn't to stash them, and only have them out when Granny's comin'! (the chocs in between are binned).

[Sixer]

this this? This time.

[MermaidSpam]

sixer - the christmassiness is invading your brain!!!!

[nappyaddict]

Sorry i saw some advent calendars in the shops today and it got me thinking. DS is 3 and hasn't ever had one before. I didn't see the point as he's never understood Christmas before but I am hoping this year he might understand a little bit. Someone on here was saying if you want one with a nativity scene you have to get them early cos they always run out so am trying to be organised in deciding which sort to get!!

TheOne what do you dislike about the tree decoration idea?

[Sixer]

It will not! I am not thinking christmasmamsms until...... after the firework>

[oopsacoconut]

We have one that has pockets with all the Nativity characters in you build the scene until Christmas morning when you add baby Jesus. I will not let DD have a chocolate one as 99% of the time they have nothing to do with Christmas.

I have just ordered some paper ones for Godchildren.

[TheBalladofGayTony]

the playmobil ones are fab.

[FritesMenthe]

Our playmobil one comes out every year.
Also a big felt tree with pockets. Each pocket has a decoration which hangs on the (felt) tree.
Also my mum buys the DC choc ones each year. They get a choc before school. Personally I don't think it's a big deal - it's a massive treat for them.

this thread has some good ideas if you want to do your own.

[ja9]

this thread has just reminded me that our advent calendar is missing a baby Jesus thanks to dh taking it into school last yr....

There were lovely ideas on MN last yr about putting a daily Christmas task in the advent calendar such as paint a christmas pic, sing a christmas song, delivers ome christmas cards etc. I LOVED that!

[Prunerz]

As I child I only ever got the cardboard window ones.
I watched every kid I know get progressively more and more chocolate, as each year went by. [scarred]
There are few enough pleasures in life ffs!!!!!!!!!
DS had a Lego one last year, it was the db, I am happy for him.

[FritesMenthe]

ja9, that's the thread I linked to in my earlier post

[ja9]

great minds

[siouxsieandthebanshees]

I buy my kids a cardboard one BETWEEN them. Although my in laws buy them a chocolate one each

[nighbynight]

Not sure I would use the tree decorations for an advent calendar, as the tree would look a bit bare at first.

The crib scene is a nice idea though - I did this with teh Playmobil crib scene last year.

I just found a comlete set of Playmobil tree ornaments in a collectors shop - they will def be on our tree this year!

[nappyaddict]

nighbynight The tree would be mostly decorated - these would just be extra special things to add on afterwards.

[LittleMissNosey]

Nappy - what would make them extra special? I'm interested in doing this

[colditz]

One of the highlights of my Christmas of a child was opening up the teeny little chocolate every frosty december morning. I knew Christmas was coming because I had the taste of chocolate in my mouth as I left the house. If was a little bi magical.

My brother and sister still insist on advent calenders, and they are 19 and 24, and houseownser

[colditz]

If my mum had thrown my chocs from granny away, I'd have never forgiven her.

[nappyaddict]

I don't know really. I was thinking of getting some wooden letters to spell out Happy Christmas or our names or something. Oh and we all choose a new decoration each year so those could go in aswell.