Impressive traditional advent calendar

[Monstersincq]

I just can't bear the chocolate ones. No judgement on anyone who likes them but I really want my DC to enjoy something without a chocolate reward!

I'd like to get quite a nice impressive feeling one in the hope that the DC will get into it and feel excited about opening rather than just disappointed that they aren't getting chocolates or presents every day like their friends. Any suggestions?

I assume by your post that you also don’t want a Lego one or similar?

We have a wooden calendar with little doors, we do put a choc in every day but also put in notes like have a festive hot choc today, take an old toy to the charity shop, write your xmas letter etc

One year I got the Lego calendar, opened it and then put in the appropriate Lego for certain days eg the xmas tree on the day we were going to pick our tree, hot choc set, xmas present on the day they were going to wrap up presents for other people, xmas jumper figure on xmas jumper day etc

Not strictly a calendar but we also have a little mice set of advent books that are tiny and have little string to hang on a tree.

We have both. Dc have a choc one and I buy a nice traditional one which we all take turns to open. They love both.

Our local library does nice traditional card ones with no chicks

What about something like this?

www.lakeland.co.uk/40910/Bethlehem-Advent-Stable?gclid=Cj0KCQiA3dTQBRDnARIsAGKSflmuBw5gO76Q5KKJyYlpdm6PYUB7aqXnYlwq2QzIBw9CYftzxusecRwaAnAEEALw_wcB&src=gfeed&s_kwcid=AL!49!3!234382151004!!!g!44002727648!&ef_id=VjKGUQAABHNjWynw:20171122110513:s

Not so keen on a box one. More just thinking quite an elaborate paper one with really lovely pictures so it feels exciting and festive.

WHS has lovely ones!

Yes monster that’s exactly what they are selling in my local library. Maybe they’ll have them near you too

If you live anywhere near a cathedral city the cathedrals shops do lovely traditional ones.

Phoenix cards have lovely 3D ones. You can still find them.

Amazon also has some nice ones (look for the German ones)

Phoenix Trading used to do brilliant advent calendars where each day you add a new cardboard figure to a nativity or Christmas scene, so by the 24th you've created a whole setting.

Has anyone seen any calendars like this around this year?

I saw some nice ones in WHSmith , but they're really expensive these days

Pragmatic - Phoenix is still around, now trading as flamingo Paperie or similar, and their Christmas catalogue has those advent calendars. Might get a new one myself.

Vermont Christmas Company on Amazon are worth a look for traditional calendars. Also try www.papertiger.co.uk/collections/advent-calendars/

There are some nice ones in John Lewis. This one looks great but I've only seen it online:

Large Advent Calendar

Search “traditional German advent calendars” on Amazon - but they’re pricey - over £17 for a large (A3 ish) size. I like the ones where the revealed picture adds something to the main picture.

My local independent bookshop has a great range - not sure if any of them is religious, but some featuring children's book characters, others just with lovely scenes.

sellmer-verlag.de/epages/40b88de2-271b-4a8a-b41c-eb8cb8d82544.mobile/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/40b88de2-271b-4a8a-b41c-eb8cb8d82544/Categories

Really reasonable prices and the post to the UK. Very traditional pretty designs

John Lewis had plenty of nice ones a while ago. We never had them at all when I was a kid so maybe that's why I love the traditional ones - preferably with glitter!

Have also seen them in local church where they are selling charity Christmas cards. Not a chocolate or Disney-type one to be seen.

Mathers... Sp. Upmarket card shops usual have stunning range I used to get them for dc who loved them until Mil got the chocolate one.. Then they didn't enjoy it

My mum got me a lovely traditional one from her local post office. Worth trying those small local shops and newsagents.

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00CX3D388?psc=1&ref=yo_pop_mb_pd&tag=mumsnetforum-21

I quite like this one. It has The Night Before Christmas behind the doors and a clock hand to turn each day as well.

I have the Lakeland stable one and it's gorgeous! We love getting it out each year and the fact it is actually related to the true meaning of chrisoms. The boxes also have room to fit a small chocolate in too.