‘You can keep your socks, smellies and socket-set advent calendars…’ – The festive tradition that’s got out of hand

Advent calendars - not what they used to be
-Credit: (Image: iStock/PA)


What happened to the simple countdown to Christmas that involved opening a little numbered door and finding … a picture of a bell or a sprig of holly?

I can recall the excitement of it being my turn (I shared with my sister) to dig my fingernail into a cardboard corner of our advent calendar to reveal the hidden picture. It was a December morning ritual (the calendar would be stuck to the wall next to where we ate our breakfast), and when it came to Christmas Eve, the larger, double-door arrangement was a joint exercise in exposing the nativity scene.

I have to say I did prefer it when there was a snowman or a star or some-such behind the door, rather than a “boring” bauble, but it was fun all the same, even if predictable, and I can’t imagine very costly at the time. How things have changed.

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The range of advent calendars is mind-boggling and they are not just for kids anymore. While youngsters demand everything from Lego and Barbie to Hot Wheels or Harry Potter examples, running to tens of pounds a pop, adults are after beer or beauty versions.

There are advent calendars for sale this year containing tealights and teas, jams and gemstones and fishing flies and film character figurines. The themes are seemingly endless and some of the price tags unbelievable, even into the thousands, if you are lucky enough to be counting down the days of December with diamonds.

As old as I am, I still like to have an advent calendar on the go from December 1, but you can keep your socks, smellies and socket-set ones. I would be happy enough to have a picture version on the go (amazingly, they do still sell a few) but chocolate has, admittedly, crept in to my pre-Christmas routine.

We’re not talking a luxury handmade chocolate version here, I must add, but a bog-standard supermarket buy with a moulded choccie insert for each of the numbered days. And I still share.

While the tradition of an advent calendar has got out of hand and its meaning lost to most people anyway, in the spirit of the season that is rushing headlong towards us, may your advent calendar of choice bring you joy – whatever the cost!