Does anyone else still buy themselves a ‘little pictures’ Advent Calendar?

[GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER]

And isn’t remotely bothered about the ones with ‘stuff’?
I hope I’m not the only one…

I have one but it’s the same one I’ve had since I was little! Just shut the doors and it’s good to go!
I do also like the ones with stuff though, I love chocolate and the last couple of years I’ve discovered skincare ones which feel like a real treat and which I get instead of a present

No, no gifts, no stuff, no chocolate! It’s literally just a little picture behind the door and the whole point is the countdown to Christmas. In the 70s they were often glittery, and you had all different size doors with Christmassy illustrations, finishing with the Nativity in the middle. My DSis and I took it in turns to open a day, and the calendar was a really magical part of the build up to Christmas.

Have always done the same with my kids, and for about 10 years we kept the same pop-up paper calendar (which I still have!). They loved getting up for school on the morning of Dec 1st and finding it set up downstairs ready to start the countdown.

Ahh thank you for explaining.

I actually think they showed one on the film 'Home Alone' which looked lovely🤔

Yes, I get one as a "family calendar"

my rule has been that before school we do the picture calendar, and then when my son gets home he can do his chocolate/whatever else one...

Lovely peaceful little moment of opening a picture each morning.

I buy one every year and I love choosing them! Vermont Christmas Company or Coppenrath usually.

Yes, I love them. Opening the little door is so much more exciting than eating a piece of chocolate. It reminds me of my childhood Christmases too.

Edit - John Lewis doesn’t seem to have any this year! I’m appalled!

However if you put Traditional Advent Calendar into Google or Amazon, plenty will come up. Personally I like the really corny ones…🎄🎅🏻

Thanks for this thread OP, I’m going to treat myself to one this year as I’m feeling very nostalgic.

My parents still have a pop up picture Nativity calendar made by Caltime from 1984, I used to love rushing downstairs and opening the windows. It also played Away in a Manger.

I’ve been having a look on this website, there are lots to choose from https://www.adventcalendarshop.co.uk/

I often get a traditional one (just pictures) and one like a Lego one.
A couple of years ago I had the Lego Friends one but I opened it all straight away because I wanted to build a Christmas scene.
Naughty me.

I only ever get the picture advent calendars. Reminds me of being a child and the scramble with my two older sisters for 'MY TURN!' to be the one to open the little cardboard door in the morning.
Simpler days ... imagine kids fighting to see a pic of a bell or a bauble or a sprig of holly LOL
My big sister was so desperate she used to sneak the door open and close it again before we got there.
When I had my DCs I swerved the chocolate/gift advent calendars and they didn't seem to mind at all. They still had fun arguing who's turn and what it would be (the disappointment one year when Day 24 was a snowman is still talked about to this day.)
I'm in my late 50s now and we still get a picture advent calendar.

I like the Jacqui Lawson online ones.

I get one every year, usually from a garden centre or a national trust shop. I love them so much more than ones with things in. I love this little poem, really makes me smile!

Love them!

Me too! I’ve just reset the previous years’ ones. Looking forward to this year’s

Yeah, I liked the old fashioned ones with glitter and pretty pictures. I am always annoyed/disappointed by the ones filled with chocolates and such.

These are the ones I remember. I would love to find one.

Me! and I always check that the 24 door is the biggest one as it means that the Christmas Eve picture will be the best. Thanks for this thread, you have reminded me to get shopping.

I always have one and I get one for daughters and my best friend.

Yes me😊

I went through a nostalgic phase and got my kids the little ones with a nativity scene with glitter on it like when I was a child in the 80s.
I loved each day opening the little windows and there would a picture behind it. We didn’t know about choc advent calendar’s until we were older so the nostalgia for the picture ones is everlasting!

I love that poem and it’s so true. This thread and the poem have inspired me to hunt down picture advent calendars for them this year.

Weren't they lovely!

The most important thing about picture advent calendars (IMO) is that the coloured pictures behind the tiny cardboard doors are printed on tissue paper so that when the calendar is set up against a window (or other light source), they glow.

Maybe check out Alpen Schatz?

Yes! I buy a little one for myself and big one for DD every year, always from Wynstones Press.

https://www.wynstonespress.com/Medium-Advent-Calendars/