While you may have a mental countdown ticking along in your mind, there are now more ways than ever to check off the days before December 25 thanks to this year’s batch of advent calendars.
From pleasingly large boxes hiding travel-sized beauty treats behind their doors to brightly illustrated packages revealing tasty morsels such as chocolate, pork scratchings and popcorn to enjoy every day, the world of advent calendars is huge.
But what happens once Christmas has come and gone? These now-empty boxes, which have been coveted, fought over and loved for so long, are thrown away, ready to join the growing mountain ranges of rubbish strewn around our planet.
Recycling used advent calendar boxes is one way to minimise Christmas’s effect on the environment but the process takes time and energy. Yet there are ways to enjoy the thrill of advent without wrecking the environment – it’s time to find a reusable advent calendar.
From stunning hand sewn designs to toughened cardboard structures, every one of the calendars in our edit below will withstand years of use. With the proper care and storage you may even be able to pass them down through the generations, creating a new Christmas heirloom for your family.
Apart from being kinder to the planet they allow you to hand select the gifts behind each window, making them more personal than anything you’ll find in the shops.
If you’re looking for wooden advent calendars, see our separate here.
For everything else, scroll on…
Sophie Conran x Biscuiteers Advent Calendar
In collaboration with the Biscuiteers, Sophie Conran’s limited edition cloth calendar is a thing of beauty – as you might expect from a designer of her standing.
Made to be suspended from a wall or door, the stunning festive design was handcrafted in India using traditional techniques. Choose to buy the calendar alone to fill with your own surprises, or buy the Biscuiteers luxe advent biscuit tin to stuff each pocket with a delicious treat every day until December 24.
From £125 | Biscuiteers | Buy it now
Also available from Sophie Conran
DIY Christmas Advent Calendar House
Thrill your little ones with this beautiful Christmas house calendar. There are 24 boxes in which to hide small presents to delight every morning until December 25. It's made of sturdy cardboard, so while you can recycle, keep it wrapped in plastic after the festive period to use again in 2020 - and beyond.
£16 | Jojo Maman Bebe | Buy it now
Christmas Tree DIY Advent Calendar Chest
Designed in the shape of a Christmas tree, this calendar is as much of a gift as it is a festive ornament. It will bring the spirit of the season into any kid's room effortlessly. Fill the 24 drawers with special treats of your choosing, and watch as they wake with excitement to look at what's inside the day's box.
£14 | Jojo Maman Bebe | Buy it now
Fabric Christmas Calendar
A slightly more grown-up affair, this hanging fabric calendar offers a minimalist approach to advent calendars. Instead of windows or drawers, gifts are tied to one of 25 hooks. Tie chocolates, keyrings and small wrapped boxes to the rings with colourful ribbon for a homemade looking gift that makes a refreshing change from the norm.
£19.95 | Not On The High Street | Buy it now
Knitty Critters Christmas Advent Calendar Crochet Kit
Create your own crochet advent calendar complete with pockets and a tree to decorate with charms. It's a sweet idea if you like the idea of a handmade Christmas, but this isn't one for beginners. You need intermediate crochet skills to nail this design. The kit includes: 5 x 170g balls of Caron Simply Soft yarn and 3 x 50g balls of Grundl Lisa yarn, 5mm crochet hooks and a pattern to follow.
£40 | John Lewis | Buy it now
Woodmansterne Advent Village 3D Advent Calendar
If you have the space, this is such a lovely idea for an advent calendar suitable for all ages. Build your own model Christmas village with these boxes, shaped like shops, cottages and other buildings. Simply fill with treats and open one at a time until the big day.
If you plan to roll this out again for Christmas 2020, you'll need to ensure you flat pack the buildings in a sealed envelope or box so that no moisture gets to the cards.
£15 | John Lewis | Buy it now
