Who else still likes old fashioned Advent calendars? Just with little pictures?

[GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER]

Having never had any sort of Advent calendar as a child - I still buy myself a trad one every year. I feel a trip to John Lewis looming - they usually have a good selection. 🎄

Me! Absolute adore them. My kids have chocolate/sweets/Lego etc but all end up wanting to open mine! This is the one I’ve already got for this year (see pic)

@evilharpy

My daughter picked this one last year and it's really lovely. Not pictures as such but builds up into a lovely little scene.

I’ve been looking at this and sooo tempted to get it! Is it definitely re-usable?

I love them, specially if number 24 has a set of double doors with a baby Jesus picture behind them!!

They make me quite misty eyed as they remind me so much of being a little girl in the 70's.

Me and my sister are early 30's. Our mum still buys us a picture advent calendar each year. I love getting them.
I buy my husband and son chocolate ones. I prefer my picture one.

@Alwaysroomforcake definitely. It's very sturdy, I don't know what you call the material but it's that shiny board stuff rather than thick card, if we're fairly gentle with it it'll probably last a good few years.

I love them but they seem very expensive.

I do. They usually have them in waterstones and paperchase.

I love the idea of this one www.museumselection.co.uk/christmas/advent/musical-recordplayer-advent-calendar/

Where is best to get these please?

I do love some of those intricate ‘pop and slot’ ones - sorely tempted for Gdcs, but try not to buy anything with ‘bits’ for them, they almost inevitably get lost. As little Gdd once said, ‘This is a losing house, Granny…’.

Yes! I always buy myself one! So traditional and festive. Makes me feel like I'm in Little Women.

I love the traditional ones and always treat myself to one.
WHSmith sell a few and there's a lovely gift shop in Canterbury that always sells a big variety.

DCs prefer the bog standard chocolate ones, the peasants 😂

I have one from here most years

Me. We've been using the same one for about 10 years. Although it's rather tatty now.

I've been using the same one for about five years! It's too nice to throw away.

www.cotswoldtrading.com/gifts-c7/christmas-c21/advent-calendars-c123/art-angels-angela-harding-holly-hedge-advent-calendar-p16456/s19609?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=art-angels-angela-harding-holly-hedge-advent-calendar-160260136&utm_campaign=product%2Blisting%2Bads&cid=GBP&gclid=Cj0KCQjw1ouKBhC5ARIsAHXNMI_KTTYZFw1lAIGE26ttgeAWnjGvB9xjrUNyC4yvm3oDF-zFqTIxt0gaAlzQEALw_wcB

I still buy the traditional ones.

Last year's had proper pictures behind the doors too- little paintings, rather than a single item like a ball or a cartoony Christmas tree.

If only I could remember where I bought it from...

We still get these, is a tradition in our house. We have an activity advent calendar too, but a relative sends a beautiful paper one every year.

My dc are 19 and 22 and never had a chocolate advent calendar- only the traditional type. (They reckon they’re deprived!)
Ideal one would have door pictures which fit with the main picture
Doors of various shapes and sizes arranged randomly over the main picture (and not in a grid at the bottom)
Double doors for the 24th
German ones are the best but can be really pricey.

Me! I always look for a combination of religion and glitter and animals!
Was using one I had as a child until recently (40 years old) and just shut all the doors again!

I mean the calendar is 40 not me unfortunately.

@hiredandsqueak ooo I discovered Angela Harding’s advent calendars last year! Nice to see another fan. I’m going for the hares this time I think.

We had one a couple of years ago with a lovely picture, but on the back of the door flaps was a line of The Night Before Christmas each day, which sounds nice but the little picture was chosen to match it so you got an awful lot of little Santas. Pretty boring after a few days - I like a different thing behind each door.

I love traditional advent calendars. It's ridiculous how much I look forward to seeing what's behind the door 😂.

Me! Especially if they have glitter.

My husband buys one for me every year and I buy one for my Dad. I buy mine from our local independent bookshop and they always have a range. A few years ago I had one which was book shelves with each door revealing a Christmas book, they always do some traditional ones with tiny windows and glitter and then some more modern ones. There was a lovely Mog one a couple of years ago. I keep them and display them on my book shelves each year.

It's my favourite bit of advent. I take my time opening it each morning and in my head, I'm still 5 in a freezing house with a one bar heater and anaglypta walls, in a ratty towel dressing gown and fluffy slippers, waiting for Christmas.