These Advent Calendars Have Us Pumped for December

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One of the best parts about the holiday season is being able to embrace the novelty items and annual traditions associated with the day. One of our favorites? Advent calendars. They give both adults and kids something to look forward to every day and add to the overall feeling of joy as we inch closer to Christmas. For anyone who needs a refresher on what this item is, the fun calendars are typically packed with special goodies that you can open and enjoy in the days leading up to December 25.

The types of calendars available for purchase run the gamut. There are food-oriented ones, activity-based cals, hobby-specific options, beauty advent cals—to name a few. You can either buy this product for yourself (you deserve it!) or gift it to the someone special in your life. In fact, if you're thinking about giving out advent cals as presents this season, we have 30 smart suggestions ahead. For the foodie in your life, we recommend going with Williams Sonoma's popcorn advent calendar, the 24-days of baking set, or Harry & David's baked goods box. For the homebody, you can't go wrong with Diptyque's luxurious advent calendar filled with candles and perfumes or for just candles, opt for Voluspa's scented wax offerings.

No matter which option catches your eye below, all the advent calendars are filled with goodies to be enjoyed by the whole family, including the household pet. (Yes, we even found cals designed specifically for cats and dogs, so that they can partake in the holiday fun too.) Don't wait too long to add your favorites to cart because some of them are already quickly selling out.

Holiday Advent Calendar

One of the most quintessential home gifts to give anyone is a luxurious Diptyque candle or room spray. This season, why pick one or the other when you can shower them with 25 surprise goodies from the brand's advent calendar? You can expect a mix of candles, perfumes, lotions, and soap.

Through the Window Puzzle Advent Calendar

“I love an advent calendar that's also an activity and as my kids get older—they're now eight and 12—these mini puzzles are ideal. (We used to do Lego advent calendars.)" Executive Editor Eleni Gage says. "Having a treat to reveal helps them get up on time, too, which is an added bonus."

House Advent Calendar

If you prefer to pick your own gifts and fill up an advent calendar yourself, get this festive one with tiny little houses to store your treats in. Best of all, it looks eye-catching enough to display on your child's dresser or the entryway table.

12 Days Advent Glass Candle Gift Set

We suggest stocking up on several of these expensive-looking candle gift sets just incase you need a last-minute present that doesn't scream "I just bought this an hour ago."

Elf Advent Calendar

Do they watch Elf every year? If yes, fill up this advent calendar that's decorated with images and motifs from the movie. The recipient can even pass on this cal the following season, with new hidden goodies, to the other Elf fans in their life.

Christmas Popcorn Advent Calendar

The next time they have movie night (perhaps stream Elf?), they will eagerly tear open this advent calendar to discover all the premium kernels and gourmet seasonings within it. Also included? Delicious popcorn recipes from family-owned Wabash Valley Farms in Indiana.

The New Yorker Puzzle Advent Calendar

Should they be avid fans of The New Yorker, they will thoroughly enjoy solving all 24 puzzles. Each puzzle contains 100-pieces, so they can work on it in the morning while drinking coffee and wrap it up after dinner, perhaps with a glass of vino in hand.

Harry Potter 2023 Advent Calendar

Is it even December if you don't watch at least one Harry Potter movie? This Lego advent calendar inspired by the film will be a hit with both kids and adults alike as you can build objects like The Three Broomsticks Inn and Zonko’s Joke Shop.

Cat Advent Calendar

This item isn't so much for the human as it is for their furry feline pal. However, for fellow cat lovers who like to spoil their pets, they will appreciate you doing the same.

26-Piece Treasured Traditions Advent Calendar Tree Set

This is a slightly different take on advent calendars—instead of opening a package every day to a surprise, you can hang up an ornament of your choice daily from the selection of 25. This includes a partridge in a pear tree, a Christmas wreath, and snowflakes. If you want to keep the ornaments a surprise though, stick each one into the aforementioned Elf advent calendar slots.

Vienna Cookie Company Advent Calendar

While you would love to bake and give out those treats as holiday gifts, sometimes you're just pressed for time. The next time you're in a pinch, pull out a box of these goodies. The sweet tooth people in your circle will love the almond-vanilla cookies, jam-topped thumbprint cookies, and chocolate-walnut truffles.

Herbs Herbal Tea Advent Calendar 2023

Give your tea loving-friend or sibling the gift of discovery with this advent calendar, which contains a multitude of tea bags. They hit every tastebud note, from citrusy and floral to sweet and spicy flavors.

Friends 2023 Advent Calendar

Children ages 6+ will have a blast building these mini legos that feature whimsical pieces like a reindeer, Christmas tree, and train truck. Once everything is build, incorporate the Legos into your holiday decor.

12 Days Of Glow Advent Calendar

For the friend who is makeup-curious and doesn't already own a lot of products, give her this set from cult-favorite makeup artist Bobbi Brown. Items include a lip tint, highlighting powder, and mascara.

Christmas Countdown Calendar

Give the kids in your life something to look forward to every day with this activity-based advent calendar. One reviewer said: "I brought this for my 2 year old, but my 10 year old enjoyed it just as much! They had a blast opening up each new surprise."

Wedding Advent Calendar

Whether they're getting married on New Year's Eve or sometime next spring, they will likely need the items provided in this Pinch Provisions box. From hair spray and earring backs to blotting tissues and deodorant towelette, these emergency items are important to have on hand for their big day.

Better Homes & Gardens 12-Day Scented Candle

The plaid packaging of this advent calendar gives it a festive touch while the minimalist candles inside will go with all their decor styles.

Warming Joy Advent Calendar

"I usually drink loose leaf tea, but when I want to make a quick drink that carries the same depth and flavor as loose leaves, I opt for Tea Forte," says Senior Commerce Editor Marina Liao."Not only does the packaging feel luxe—I love the triangle shape tea bags and the little leaf design on top!—but the tea itself tastes high quality and comes in interesting flavors."

Best of Harry & David® Advent Calendar

Give a food gift the whole family can enjoy (that is, if no one is allergic to any of the ingredients inside). Shoppers say the portions are big and they love discovering all the different treats, from popcorn and trail mix, inside.

La Collection Privée Holiday 2023 Advent Calendar

Dior's advent calendars always go viral on TikTok and for good reason: they look lavish and elegant. This limited-edition set from the luxury label contains items such as candles, perfumes, and travel spray.

12 Days of Hot Sauce Advent Calendar

Our mouths are watering already just thinking about these hot sauces. When they need to add a dash of flavor to their morning breakfast burrito or fried eggs, they'll reach for these tiny bottles with funny names like "Son of Zombie" and "Garlic Reaper."

Stitch a Day Advent Embroidery Calendar

The holidays can be stressful, from participating in the many social activities to planning a feast if they're hosting. When they need to unwind and rest their mind at the end of every day, they can pick this up and stitch a design from the first of December to the 25th. Once complete, this will become part of their holiday home decor.

12 Days of Noodles

PSA to all the noodle lovers out there: this is the advent calendar for you. Discover and taste a dozen of different air-dried noodles made from fiber-rich whole-wheat flour. This box also contains four types of flavor packets: original soy, spicy soy, or onion sauce.

Rock Collection Advent Calendar 2023

Are the kids always collecting rocks and asking you hard-to-answer questions about them? (Hey, we're not geologists!) Satisfy their curious minds by giving them this educational advent calendar that'll teach them about fossils, rocks, and crystals.

15 Days of Socks Advent Calendar

"My sister bought me a Harry Potter sock advent calendar a few years ago from Target and I still wear those socks to this day," says Liao. "Though these socks are on the thinner side and not as 'luxurious'-feeling as my $30 a pair ones, this won't matter to the true HP fans out there. The gift is the perfect function-meets-kitschy present."

24 Days of Baking Cookies

If they expressed interest in wanting to bake more in the new year, help them get started with this advent calendar. It contains must-have foundational items such as cookie cutters, piping bags, gift bags, decorating tips, and more.

Gourmet Coffee Advent Calendar

Make their daily coffee-drinking ritual feel more festive with this seasonally-appropriate set. We personally have our eyes set on trying "Gingerbread Cookie" and "Jingle Java."

Advent Calendar 2022

Most of the time, the empty slots in an advent calendar can only hold the smallest of items, like a ring. If you need slightly bigger boxes, opt for this set measuring 2.76 inches by 2.76 inches.

Merry & Bright Advent Puzzle

There are so many different types of puzzle advent calendars, and what we love about this one is that each puzzle is only 80 pieces. They won't take forever to finish and the solving process will be even quicker if you work on them with a partner.

24 Tasty Dogs Treats for All Breeds

Don't worry dog people, here's a pet-specific advent cal the special pooch in your life can enjoy. All the cheese-flavored treats are 100 percent natural with no preservatives and will take your dog quite a bit to work through.

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