What non-chocolate advent calendars are there?

[ExAstris]

DH and DS are both happy with normal chocolate advent calendars but I haven't bothered with one for me the past couple of years as the chocolate tastes funny (I'm a fussy bugger when it comes to chocolate - Easter egg chocolate also often tastes odd, I think it may be what they do to it to shape it). But I feel left out!

So what other advent calendars are there? I know some of the cosmetics companies make them but I'm not into make-up. What are my other options? Maybe even just a really good quality chocolate one?

I've seen gin ones if you like that sort of thing...

Lego does a non choc calendar

Could you get a fabric or wood one with slots/boxes and fill with chocolate you do like? We have 1 and I fill it with miniature Hero's or lindor!

Ooops sorry just re-read & it was for you not DS

Yankee candle do one too

There is a gin advent calendar!

Or hotel chocolate do a very nice one.

Otherwise do you have a cathedral near you? I have a gorgeous paper one I brought from the gift shop in a cathedral.

I get a Lego one for my three GC aged 5-10 to share. There are 24 small models so they get one each every 3 days, which they love. They assemble the pieces into a vaguely festive scene using the cardboard background that comes with it.

Last year DH had Lego Star Wars and I had the M&S beauty one (which had about 5 make up items but was mostly skin and hair treats, nice bubble bath etc), and amazing value, even if not everything plus to your taste.

2yo DS will be getting Playmobil 123 this year.

I looked into gin and whisky for DH but they're expensive!

My reply seems to have vanished, so apologies if this posts twice.

Rojak I'm actually waiting keenly for DSs to be old enough for Lego!

I don't really drink, but Hotel Chocolat sounds a good idea. Also love the fill-it-myself idea, though maybe I could also get a nice picture one too so I have the fun of finding the numbered doors!

Beer hawk do what appears to be a lovely one with 24 different ales in. Just ordered dh one. Body shop do one, and so do selfridges etc.

Yes Yankee candle ones are great if you love candles!

I think I'm the only person left in the world who buys one without chocolate or any sort of gimmick in. I have to hunt high and low to find one which just has windows...oh, and a depiction of the Nativity! Weird, I know!!!

Whatever happened to the traditional Advent calendars that just had pictures behind the openings? I used to love mine! It was re-used every year during my childhood and part of the excitement was recognising and remembering the pictures as each day passed and Christmas approached.

Advent calendars have been hijacked by confectionery companies and others in recent years. I think that's rather a shame, as they have spoiled what was a simple little pleasure for children, counting down the days until Christmas.

Dementedma Do they still exist?! Where do you get them?

www.masterofmalt.com/advent-calendars/

Gin...whiskey...rum...vodka....

I'm sure I've seen traditional advent calendars with just pictures sold alongside the Christmas cards in Oxfam.

Amazon has a load 80smum, including some rather nice 3D house ones (somewhat overpriced). Or a religious book shop would have one with Nativity pictures.

They traditional ones can still be found - as a PP said cathedral gift shops are a good place to look, or you can find them on Amazon - try searching for Alison Gardiner for some nice ones.

We used to have the same paper calendar with a nativity scene every year as well, and we used to love it!

Emma Bridgewater always do lovely paper ones with barn or Nativity scenes. I always get one, you can buy them from there web page or in some nice gift shops. Also even though a bit pricey, look at fortnum and mason they have beautiful ones too.

Plus why does advent calendar chocolate taste so fowl. It really is horrible

No demented me too! I've already bought this years off ebay because I've found them so hard too find on other years. They're always more expensive than the chocolate ones as well.

Playmobil do one too.
Or buy/make a fabric pocket one and fill it yourself. for example - I've seen something similar done with envelopes, or socks on a washing line.
Or a traditional one.

Found these and got my dd/s www.adventgiftbox.co.uk/

Body shop does a nice one, not make up based but mostly body products. Cheapest one is £60 though.
Or on amazon Bomb cosmetics does one, each day has a little bath bomb or soap in- £27ish.
Or lush does one (only 12 days though and quite expensive).
You can get yankee candles ones quite cheaply if you like candles.
Alternatively theres a lovely looking stationary one for adults someone just posted on the thread 5 bargain thread, about £26.

Can you tell I'm quite obsessed by them?

I found some traditional paper ones in paperchase and John Lewis last year. They were all upwards of £5 and I was too tight to buy them so ordered one from Amazon. Didn't read the description properly and when it arrived discovered it was a Christmas card advent calendar and so ridiculously tiny!