Jaine Blackman takes a look at some of the interesting advent calendars on the market this year

Advent calendars have come a long way since they were a couple of bits of cardboard stuck together with pictures behind each window.

And they are not just for children any more.

Couples, singletons, old and young are catered for... even pets don’t miss out!

In Oxford, the Ann Summers store reported plenty of giggles and swift sales of its naked man advent calendar.

It’s caused a bit of controversy among those who feel it’s long way from the real meaning of Christmas.

But, let’s face it, most modern advent calendars are more about chocolate and treats than the nativity... as is Christmas itself!

So whether it’s the hard stuff, a nice cuppa or chocolate naughty bits you’re after, there’s something to suit all tastes (or lack of it!)

1 Benefit Candy-Coated Countdown Advent Calendar, £60, only available in store (benefitcosmetics.co.uk) The 24-treat box holds a host of cosmetic cuties plus hair accessories.

2 Advent Calendar to Share, £26 (hotelchocolat.com) Two truffles behind each window – 48 in all – for a Christmas countdown full of peace, goodwill and sharing.

3 Get in the Christmas spirit quite literally with boozy advent calendars from Firebox (firebox.com). They feature 24 drams of whisky (£149.99), rum (£149.99), tequila (£119.99) or gin (£99.99).

4 If you’re not a fan of the hard stuff, how about Advent Christmas Tea Gift Set by Victoria Mae Designs, £19.50 (notonthehighstreet.com). The collection of 25 teabags packaged individually in paper envelopes, with each date leading up to Christmas, can be customised to suit individual tastes.

Ann Summers (annsummers.com) has been causing a stir with its naked man advent calendar, £5. With chocolate boobs, bums and willies behind the windows, you may find yourself on Santa’s naughty list!

6 Go traditional and opt for a non-fattening nativity advent from Caroline Gardner, £4.95 (carolingardner.com).

7 Man’s best friend need not miss out this Yule. Treat your doggy pal to an edible rawhide calendar by Reg and Ruby, £8.99 (PetsPyjamas.com)

8 The Playmobil Santa’s Workshop advent calendar, £18.99 (playmobil.co.uk) includes a Santa figure, two elves and an angel figure, reindeer with sleigh and additional accessories to build a complete Santa’s Workshop.

9 If you prefer to get back to the real meaning of Christmas the nativity story unfolds behind the doors of the Divine advent calendar, £3.99 (traidcraftshop.co.uk), along with a Fairtrade chocolate. It features scenes of family farmers around the world celebrating the Christmas story.

10 The Gruffalo features on a new advent calendar from Thorntons, £3.50. Open the doors if you dare!

11 Go Continental with this advent calendar. Each window hides a European-inspired chocolate for you to enjoy, from nutty pralines to velvety truffles, £10 (thorntons.co.uk).

12 Lakeland’s (lakeland.co.uk) advent house reduced to £3.49 offers a colourful, interactive 3D countdown, with 24 milk chocolate figures in the roof and additional card characters to add to the fun.

13 This traditional wooden advent train is on track to become a family treasure when it is brought out at the start of December each year. £22 from The National Gallery (nationalgallery.co.uk)

14 Behind the facade of the iconic Liberty shop, 25 pampering pots and potions await. And not just miniatures either – of the lavish line-up, 10 are full-size, plus there's £25 to spend on Josh Wood haircare and even a voucher for a 30-minute Sisley facial. £149 (liberty.co.uk)

15 These versatile red and silver advent tin buckets can be used anywhere in the home. Complete with red gingham ribbon and a wooden star peg they can be hung on the Christmas tree, clipped onto a garland or hidden around the house as a fun way of enjoying the advent period. Red and Silver Advent Bucket Set by Decocube £59.99 (thetravellingsouk.com)

Oxford Mail:

MAKING A DATE TO START A TRADITION

I can’t wait to open my advent calendar in the morning,” said my little girl as I tucked her up in bed. Oops... what advent calendar?!

This happened about 20 years ago, long before supermarkets were 24-hour affairs and petrol stations sold much more than motoring goods, snacks and fuel.

Emergency measures were called for.

It was before the popularity in the UK of dated advent bags in which you could put a personalised treat.

But I’d recently read a short story which featured them: a Scandinavian suitor wooed his beloved with a meaningful gift in each one, culminating with an engagement ring.

So, I grabbed a bit of fabric and spent the evening (and half the night!) sewing and cursing my lack of foresight in picking up a pink, chocolate-filled Barbie calendar in Poundland.

Bags complete, the original idea to sew numbers on to them had to be abandoned due to the need to sleep. As a “temporary” measure I cut them out of some adhesive holograph paper I’d found in the back of a drawer.

That was 20 years ago.

The numbers are getting a bit tatty now, and 17 has disappeared altogether, but they are still brought out every Christmas.

That first year (and several subsequent years) only the first few bags were filled at the beginning of December, with the rest being done when I got my act together later.

I gradually got organised and made sure I (mainly) had enough little goodies to start the month complete.

In the early years it was easy to find bits of plastic tat to go in them: hair accessories, scented erasers, bits and bobs from Claire’s for my daughter and, later on when her younger brother demanded to join in (they take it in turns daily rather than have a whole series each), small cars, tiny models to make and Pokemon figures for my son.

Now they are older – 19 and 25 – they still insist on the bags being filled. I even have to send my daughter’s to the US where she now lives (she brings the empties home when she visits for Christmas).

Yesterday I got a text from her: “I’m evens this year”. A hint that I need to get them in the post.

This year’s fillings are not cheap but splitting up sets of small items helps to make life easier and they’d both rather skip some presents on Christmas Day in favour of having the “little bags”.

If I’d have remembered to pick up an advent calendar on my way home from work all those years ago, I would have saved myself a lot of effort but would have missed out on what’s become a lovely family tradition. Oh, and the end of the short story which inspired the bags... he got the girl, of course.

– Jaine Blackman

In this year’s bags (pictured above): Fun Size Flirts by Benefit (RRP £29.50); Scaramouche & Fandango Travel Pack (RRP £14); Whisky Selection (£6.66, Sainsbury’s); earrings, hair garland and bracelet (were £3, £5 and £4 respectively but bought in Claire’s Accessories sale when you could pick up five items for £3); Fish hair product minis (£2.99 each, Boots).

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