AIB Bah Humbug about advent calendar inflation?

[Rhubarbgarden]

Advent calendars used to be a cardboard nativity scene with pictures behind each window. As a child I found opening these little windows exciting out of all proportion. Then, gradually, advent calendars started having chocolates in the windows. I thought this was rather sad. Now, suddenly, everyone has got advent calendars that have boxes and pouches for presents. Presents! 25 presents! I don't like it. I don't like it at all. Where will this end?

We still have paper advent calendars in this house.

I wasn't allowed choc advent calendars as a kid and I'm going to be mean (sensible) like my parents were .

I still get glittery picture ones. DD loves them and doesn't feel she's missing out in any way - plenty of treats/chocs over xmas anyway.
The chocolate ones just look like litter.

We saw a Star Wars one today with chocolates in

We just get the little religious ones with windows and pics behind. Advent isn't about little chocolates and presents. It's meant to be a penitential season.

When I was about 7 my aunt gave me an advent calendar. I was beside myself with excitement at the prospect of a choc a day.
And then on Dec 1st I discovered it was actually a charity calendar for her church - one that you put money INTO.
I have never forgiven her.

Where will it end indeed?

Oh dear, Esta, I've just bought one for my godson (age 6) that has charity presents behind the windows (quite fun things like "feed a pig" that might appeal to the infant mind). I did also send him some chocolate....

I have an aunt like that Esta.

Cardboard nativity calendars here. We also have a fabric nativity, where you hang up another star each night.

I hate the chocolate calendars, and hate the idea even more of the present a day countdown.

where can I get one without chocolate? as I Havnt been able to find one in UK

princess Ours were from paperchase. I bought them at the start of September.

Durham Cathedral sell them

YABU I have an advent calendar without chocolate/boxes/pouches! :-) It's a simple nativity scene and I always have one.

I'm sure I saw some in WH Smith

We have one that builds the nativity scene and one that builds a school nativity scene.

they have them on Amazon too - search for traditional advent calendar

Good Gifts do one without chocolate, and you "give" a different thing each day. But I have to say it's woefully lacking in pictures.

The thing I love, and would have loved as a child, is those Advent candles like a string of beads on a single wick where you light a new one each day. That would have been better than chocolate (I was a pyromaniac child, though).

I made a 12 Days of Christmas one last year, with a pocket for a choc every day. DS was thrilled and I didn't have to sew 20 odd bloody pockets.

My mum would never, ever let me have one with chocolates. Religious scene, just pictures. No problem. Have continued with dc. Then she turned up today with...chocolate calendars with hello kitty and Cars 2!!! Now correct me if I'm wrong, but neither of those were there at the birth of Jesus?

Anyone seen the playmobil one? £15.99!!!! Bah blooming humbug!

When I was a child we got the same advent calendar every year. I mean the same actual calendar, we had to push the doors shut in January and put it away for the next year.
My DD is definitely getting one with chocolate.

We have a Spongebob advent calendar.
It is vile. But it was a quid in Poundland.
I think that really sums up the true spirit of our Christmas.

I agree OP!

Buy the DC's an advent candle. Far more fun to do together than a calendar anyway. Watching it burn down, etc.

we have always had the paper ones. This year, DS2 needed some serious motivation coping with a bowel problem. He has earned himself a playmobil advent calendar. DS1 will have a haribo advent calendar so that it's not too unfair that DS2 is getting a toy every day.

I agree with the majority here - toy advent calendars are OTT. Won't be doing it next year.