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’ve just had a look. They’re wonderful x

I have been known to treat myself to a Sara Miller picture advent calendar.

https://www.museumselection.co.uk/gifts/calendars-diaries/a-christmas-carol-storybook-advent-calendar/

I just bought this one for my husband, hes never bothered about the stuff but loves christmas stories in the run up

I grew up using the same beautiful one every year. It hung on the wall and was 3D. You pulled a tab, and the donkey's head nodded and Mary rocked baby Jesus. I absolutely loved it. I think the picture for no 24 was the star.
Delighted to hear you can still get them! DC gets a chocolate one and Lego City one. He'll be 15 this year, but I couldn't possibly stop.
I'll search for a picture one for me.

I remember getting one a few years ago in like an arty type shop or a stationary shop in town.

I'm Jewish, but half family Christian tradition...

I once had a magical picture advent calendar which you put up against the window for the light to shine through, like stained glass.

I got one from our local Christian bookshop which is a Christmas card which I’m sending to my daughter. It’s gorgeous

I still buy an old-style picture advent calendar for my DD (alongside a chocolate one, I’m not a monster 😄). I love the glittery German-style ones - this website has some lovely designs: www.traditionaladventcalendars.co.uk/german-advent-calendars.html

Yes , so much nicer than some cheap chocolate. Advent is about anticipation- not treats (and I’m not even religious).

I think grown women buying themselves a ‘treats’ advent calendar is rather depressing - why not just buy the thing you want? opening a series of things you’ve bought yourself that you may or may not want over an extended period is odd imo.

I do, and always have. I told the children that the chocolate in those horrible other advent calendars was disgusting and they wouldn't like it. During Covid when they were 9 and 11 I cracked and got them a chocolate one, but I offered to do it again the next year and they wanted to go back to the pictures, so that is what we do.

I always look for one where the pictures behind the doors add to the story, so you might open the postbox and see parcels, or part of a tree to find an owl rather than ending up with holly and candy canes weirdly scattered all over a picture of Father Christmas. They are quite hard to find though.

Also some wonderful ones here: sellmer-adventskalender.com/en-gb/collections/advent-calendars-a4

The best ones are here and all in support of charity too. Lovely advent calendars and advent cards

https://cardsforcharity.co.uk/product-category/christmas/advent/

yes that is the kind I always bought and would buy now

I have fond memories of our Woolies calendars covered in glitter! Cost about 30p!

Yes, I love what i call a proper, traditional advent calendar.

Molly Lemon sells beautiful advent cards via her Instagram shop.

Yes we get one every year and we're over 60. I love the ones where the picture revealed adds to the overall scene. We always got a picture advent calendar for the DCs too, as they are so pretty and magical. Nothing charming about a hole where a chocolate used to be.

I have one i bring out every year as my late mum bought it for we 3 children when we were much younger and she always said it was the three of us. Sometimes I buy another if I see one I like, churches usually sell them

Angela Harding has stunning ones! They don’t have the year on so we have three that we use in rotation as they are so beautiful
angelaharding.co.uk/collections/advent-calendars

I love them, they are my favourite. I like a nice traditional scene (not fussed on whether it is religious or secular as long as it is properly 'christmassy'), glitter, randomly placed and sized doors, and (most importantly) double doors for number 24.

I haven't had one for a while though - I stopped because I was annoyed about something DH said or did connected to it, and I can't remember what it was now. I won't get one this year, because DH bought me a very fancy, very expensive beauty one (because he's a good sort really), but I think I'll revert to simple glittery cardboard next year.

My teenagers have finally come round to the idea that picture advent calendars are the best. I have got them posh 3D ones as well, we had an incredibly carousel one a few years ago that was so beautiful although it took hours to construct.

I don't think they're weird faces, they look like expressing shock and dismay for you that you've missed out... we grew up with these and for some, it's still an important Christmas tradition that we don't want to do without. Nobody's got a problem with you at all.

I bought one a few years ago and made the revolting discovery that the pictures behind the doors were photos! Obviously fine if the manufacturers want to do that, but for traditional me, the pictures have to be illustrations and suitably festive. Will it be a lighted candle, a robin on a log, a carol singer holding a lantern, a sprig of holly, an angel..? You just didn't know and the anticipation was marvellous. Maybe getting a bit of chocolate is also marvellous but there's no surprise there, is there?

Me too! I dont find the chocolate / beauty / whatever ones remotely festive, the picture ones make me feel all twinkly. I already have this years as I bought 2 to choose from last year. Excited to put it on the mantelpiece

I thought I must be the only person who remembered these (60s child) !
Me and little brother took it in turns to open each day and it was fixed to let him open the last one (because little) The last one was always baby Jesus in the crib, from memory.

I do have a bit of a problem with so called advent calenders costing north of £1K full of expensive treats, the don't seem very Advent calendary to me.

Yes, I love them, you can get them more easily now than a few years ago.