Remodelista Gift Guide 2023: 11 Simple Advent Calendars

My daughter’s godmother sends her an advent calendar every year; a traditional open-the-flap affair. The reward? A holiday image (sleighs, Christmas baubles, etc.).

Advent calendars have their roots in the 19th century, when German Lutherans began marking the days leading up to Christmas with simple chalk marks on walls or doors, lighting candles, and lining nativity cribs with straw.

But in the past few years, the advent calendar has evolved into a 24-day shopping extravaganza (see: Liberty of London Beauty Advent Calendar—Contents Worth Over $1,300 and Vogue’s Best Beauty Advent Calendars for Everyone on Your List).

For the purists among us, here are a few more humble ideas for the holiday:

ferm living advent calendar 2 — Above: The canvas Star Christmas Calendar from Ferm Living has golden embroideries and 24 little pockets to fill; $109 (it’s also available in dark green).

wally and whiz advent calendar danish gummy — Above: The Wally and Whiz Danish Gummy Advent Calendar is on sale at Food52 for $46.67. It includes an array of gummies in flavor combinations, like cherry and vanilla, elderflower and yuzu, and hibiscus and raspberry.

Above: Our friend Meg of Meg Cohen Design offers a small-batch Advent Calendar with windows that open to reveal images of the heavens culled from ancient manuscripts and printed on parchment paper, which, held up to the light, create a stained glass window effect. The advent calendar comes with a decorative mailing envelope. Images curated by Stephen Ellcock; $16 from Meg Cohen Design.