With the Christmas season approaching, shoppers are on the lookout for the best items to make the holiday season feel special. Along with the tradition of decorating Christmas trees, decking the halls with the best Christmas lights, and hanging up Christmas ornaments, many families use Advent calendars as a way to kickstart the season. The best Advent calendars can bring everyone together during the happiest, but also the busiest, time of the year.
Advent calendars were initially created to serve as a religious-based countdown to Christmas. However, there are now more nondenominational versions, and modern Advent calendars usually come with some kind of small gift or treat for each day leading up to Christmas. There are Advent calendars for kids, Advent calendars for adults, wine Advent calendars, and beyond.
Families use Advent calendars to mark the passing of time leading up to the holiday, allowing the owner to open one new item a day until Christmas. Some newer versions are even equipped to celebrate any holiday or moment, and you can find countless options both online and in-store.
That said, the best Advent calendars make great early holiday gifts, serving as a way to get in the spirit while serving as Christmas decor at the same time.
So whether shopping for your family or friends, kids or adults, you’ll want to check out the best Advent calendars for the 2021 holiday season.
Whether you’re a fan of Star Wars, Harry Potter, Minecraft or Friends, LEGO has an Advent calendar for you. Seriously, the toy brand makes some of the best 2021 Advent calendars in the world for kids and adults alike, and for Christmas 2021, the company has released a Star Wars Advent calendar you won’t want to miss. This particular LEGO Advent calendar is Mandalorian-themed and features 24 LEGO mini-figures, weapons and buildable vehicles. And, yes, Baby Yoda is here, too. This product will be officially released on September 1, 2021, and we wouldn’t be surprised if it sells out just as quickly!
Buy: LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar 2021 $39.99
2. Northlight 24 Days of Christmas Advent Calendar
Do you love arts and crafts? Do you look forward to Christmas all year long? Then we recommend ordering this DIY Advent Calendar, which lets you pick your own treats and surprises for the 24 days leading up to Christmas. This Advent calendar is shaped like a Christmas tree and features 24 drawers that you can fill yourself. How do you stop your little ones from skipping ahead? We can’t help you there.
ON SALE NOW!
Buy: Northlight 24 Days of Christmas Advent Calendar $44.99
3. Wondershop Hanging Advent Calendar
This simple felt Advent calendar doesn’t come pre-loaded with goodies, but it’s a great way to keep track of the date in the busy days leading up to Christmas. Simply hang this in your kitchen or place it by the tree so everyone knows exactly how many days are left before Santa arrives. Your kids will love competing for the honor of advancing the counter each day.
Buy: Wondershop Hanging Advent Calendar $5.00
4. Friends: The Official Advent Calendar (2021 Edition)
BEST FOR FRIENDS FANS
Anyone who enjoyed the Friends reunion is going to be totally stoked to get this official Friends Advent calendar. Full of fun and entertaining surprises, it’s such a cool gift to share with family and friends. There are 25 days in total to celebrate with this 2021 calendar.
Buy: Friends: The Official Advent Calendar (2021 Edition) $25.49
5. L’Occitane Signature Holiday Advent Calendar
If someone on your list loves skincare and hair products, this is the Advent calendar for them. It’s chock full of moisturizing products like lotion, cream, shampoo, hair masks, lip balm, and more. There are 24 products in total so you can look great and smell good in the days leading up to the holiday.
Buy: L’Occitane Signature Holiday Advent Calendar $74.00
6. Roman 25-Piece Nativity Advent Calendar
Christmas traditions don’t have to be all about gifts to be meaningful, which is why we like this traditional Advent calendar. Featuring a classic Nativity scene, this is the type of Advent calendar your mom or grandmother may have owned. Keep old traditions alive with this classic Advent calendar. Once the holiday is over, you can pack this set away with the rest of your Christmas decorations and save it for Christmas 2022.
Buy: Roman 25-Piece Nativity Advent Calendar $56.24
7. Vinebox 12 Nights of Wine 2021 Edition
Once upon a time, adult Advent calendars featuring wine or beer were a novelty. Today, you can find tons of boozy Advent calendars for adults, and this year our top recommendation comes courtesy of one of our favorite wine clubs. The Vinebox 12 Nights of Wine Advent calendar was a major hit last year, and it’s returning for Christmas 2021. Enjoy 12 delicious glasses of wine in the days leading up to Christmas. If there are any wines you especially love, Vinebox makes it easy to order the bottle for your collection. The Vinebox Advent Calendar isn’t for sale just yet, but you can entire your information to learn more once it’s available.
Buy: 12 Nights of Wine by Vinebox
8. Jerky Advent Calendar
Jerky fans are going to be amazed at this Advent calendar. It offers 12 delicious options behind each door, offering close to two pounds of jerky in total. This set is available for pre-order, shipping out in November.
Buy: Jerky Advent Calendar $89.00
9. Beer Advent Calendar
We’ve previously covered our favorite wine Advent calendars, but what about beer calendars? We say “Tis the season!” This is one Advent calendar for adults that you’ll have to jump on early. Available for pre-sale, the Send a Beer Advent calendar begins shipping in November 2021. It comes complete with 12 curated craft beers from the best breweries in the US. This set arrives in festive packaging that any recipient is sure to love.
Buy: Beer Advent Calendar $84.00
10. LEGO City Advent Calendar Building Kit
This Lego Advent calendar offers 24 different items, including buildings, vehicles, mini-figures, and other items. You can tuck one in each door for your children to open a new surprise every day until Christmas.
Buy: LEGO City Advent Calendar Building Kit $63.78
11. Ciaté London Mini Mani Month Nail Polish Advent Calendar
This mini mani Advent calendar offers 22 mini nail polishes, plus one full-size polish and a watermelon lip oil. According to Spy Site Director Tim Werth, his girlfriend loved opening this Advent calendar for Christmas 2020, and it’s an excellent Christmas gift idea for women who love beauty products. Each polish comes infused with strengthening biotin, nourishing bamboo, and hydrating bakuchiol extracts, providing flawless and long-lasting results. Open one each day beginning December 1st until Christmas.
EDITOR FAVORITE
Buy: Ciaté London Mini Mani Month Nail Polish Advent Calendar $55.71
12. David’s 24 Days of Tea
Enjoy these 24 David’s teas every day in the lead-up to the Christmas holiday. Every door in this set features a selection of bestselling blends and limited-quantity teas. Each tin in this set makes up to two servings of 16 ounces.
Buy: Davids Tea 24 Days of Tea $29.99
13. Tingletouch Love Calendar for Couples
Who says an Advent calendar has to be PG-rated? This NSFW Adult Advent Calendar for Couples comes courtesy of Tingletouch. One of the best Advent calendars for adults, this gift set is sure to spice up your December. Inside each window, you’ll find three playful activities to choose from ranging from simple to more complicated. The activities might include giving each other compliments, having a special date night or trying something new in the bedroom.
14. The Crazy Scientist Advent Calendar
Science lovers of all ages are sure to enjoy the 24 exciting experiments included with this Advent calendar. There’s a different experiment hidden in each box that will keep recipients occupied for hours on end. Learn facts and the interworkings of experiments in chemistry, biology, mechanics, and more.
Buy: The Crazy Scientist Advent Calendar $39.95
15. Disney Storybook Collection Advent Calendar 2021
Do you have kids who are absolutely obsessed with all things Disney? Then we’ve found the best Advent calendar for your family. The Disney Storybook Collection Advent Calendar for 2021 features a new book every day from December 1-24. From Disney princesses to Pixar characters and Mickey Mouse, the entire Disney family is represented in this fun Advent calendar for kids.
Buy: Disney Storybook Collection Advent Calendar $25.49
16. Melissa & Doug Countdown to Christmas Wooden Advent Calendar
Looking for an Advent calendar that toddlers and young kids can use year after year? Then we recommend the Melissa & Doug Countdown to Christmas Wooden Advent Calendar. This calendar is made out of a wooden Christmas tree resting atop a holiday-themed box, which stores each of the magnetic numbered pieces. Children will love matching the corresponding magnet with its proper place on the Christmas tree, getting the whole family in a festive mood for the holidays.
Buy: Melissa & Doug Countdown to Christmas Wooden Advent Calendar $19.52
17. Godiva Holiday Luxury Chocolate Advent Calendar
Look, we all know perfectly well that when Christmas 2021 finally arrives, all diets go out the window. So this Christmas, why not plan on treating yourself to a Godiva Advent calendar? These luxury chocolate calendars come with 24 individually wrapped treats for counting down the days to Christmas while satisfying your sweet tooth. Go ahead, you deserve it!
Buy: Godiva Chocolate Advent Calendar $29.95
Buy: Godiva Holiday Luxury Chocolate Advent Calendar (Godiva.com) $39.95
18. Hot Sauce Gift Set Advent Calendar
Looking for early Christmas gift ideas for him? If your brother, son, husband or boyfriend simply can’t get enough hot sauce, then surprise him for the holiday season with this absolutely delightful hot sauce Advent calendar. Each of these 25 hot sauces comes in a 2oz glass bottle for a different type of heat every day.
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