Yahoo News Pork scratchings, sex toys and 100k in jewellery: The weird and wonderful advent calendars you didn't know existed for Christmas 2019
Christmas is on its way, and while we’re excited about picking out our tree, shopping for OTT Christmas jumpers and musing over Secret Santa gifts, there’s one thing we’re looking forward to more than most: the advent calendar.
Traditionally a box made up of 12, 24 or 25 windows hiding bite-size pieces of chocolate, the humble advent calendar has snowballed into a Christmas shopping category all of its own spanning everything but chocolate (though if you want a chocolate one you can find them in our list here
These days you can get your hands on advent calendars hiding just about any kind of surprise, from beauty to booze, stationery, socks, jewellery and even adult toys.
While the excitement of opening presents on December 25 will never be eclipsed, waking up to a small gift every day until the big day is undeniably a fantastic way to start a winter’s morning.
After all, you’ve got to stretch before a marathon, right?
Shop more of the best advent calendars for Christmas 2019
Beaverbrooks the Jewellers Advent Calendar
Filled with diamond-encrusted jewels and timepieces, Beaverbrooks' Advent Calendar is one of the finest calendars money can buy this Christmas 2019.
The 24 piece selection includes a £26,000 ring and 100 facet diamond earrings, plus stunning ornaments from the likes of Gucci, Omega and TAG Heuer.
It's more than a bit pricey, but if we had the funds - this is what we'd get.
£100,000 | Beaverbrooks | Buy it now
The Snaffling Pig Co. Merry Piggin' Christmas Advent Calendar, 168g
If you love bacon yule love the Snaffling Pig's pork crackling calendar. Munch on a bag of fun flavours, including Pigs in Blankets, Low & Slow BBQ, Marvellous Maple, Black Pepper, Salt 'N' Vinegar and Perfectly Salted.
£15 | John Lewis | Buy it now
Lovehoney Best Sex of Your Life Couple's Sex Toy Advent Calendar
Putting the XXX in Xmas, this is an adults-only twist on an advent calendar. The bumper selection is filled with LoveHoney customer favourites including a £65 We-Vibe couple's vibrator. The total worth of the contents comes in at £229, making this a cracking advent for couples to share.
£100 | LoveHoney | Buy it now
Funko Marvel Advent Calendar
Have a Marvel-ous Christmas this December with this superhero filled calendar. The whole gang is here, from the Avengers to some of the brand's most infamous villains.
More into Harry Potter? Find the magical advent calendar here.
£45 | John Lewis | Buy it now
Missoma 12 Days to Shine
The jewellery brand that counts Gigi Hadid and Meghan Markle among its fan base has launched its first ever advent calendar. For 12 days in the lead up to Christmas, you will be treated to a piece from the brand's covetable collection. The calendar includes the Gold Star Moon Stud Earrings, Gold Mini Claw Charm Hoops, Gold Pave Hinged Hoops, Gold Double Chain Bracelet and more.
£395 | Missoma | Buy it now
Marks and Spencer 12 Days of Christmas Jewellery Advent Calendar
Featuring stylish jewellery charms behind each door, M&S's jewellery calendar will help you count down to the big day in serious style.
The edit of earrings and necklaces feature a special kind of metal that's suitable for even the most sensitive of skin.
£19.50 | M&S | Buy it now
Fortnum's Feasting Advent Calendar
While it has many departments, there's no denying that Fortnum's does food best - so we were delighted to discover the luxury store has launched a feasting advent calendar that will leave most foodies beside themselves.
The joyous assortment includes sweet and savoury treats as well as high quality bubbles, tea and spirits.
£200 | Fortnum & Mason | Buy it now
Meri Meri Hair Accessories Advent Calendar
With this calendar you can spend yuletide eating, drinking and being Meri Meri. The brand has joined the advent calendar bandwagon, this year presenting a 24-day calendar with fun hair accessories as gifts!
£35.50 | Trouva | Buy it now
Protein Advent Calendar
While most of deem Christmas as a time to legitimately gorge on incredible food before lolling around in front of Die Hard, for the single-minded few, it's a time of temptation designed to wreck their fitness and healthy eating goals. But there is an advent for the gym bunny in your life.
Boost Box's Protein Advent Calendar is stocked with 25 protein rich treats, from bars and nut butters to cake bites so delicious you'll wonder how they're good for you.
There's even a vegan protein advent calendar full of plant-based goodness for the same price too.
£39.99 | Boost Box | Buy it now
Paperchase 2019 Stationery Advent Calendar
A must for any stationery lover, experience 24 days of stationery joy with Paperchase's Christmas Advent Calendar. The bumper pre-Christmas delight will include a diary for the new year, pens, cute stickers and more stationery than you can shake a mince pie at.
£35 | Paperchase | Buy it now
24 Days of Stationery Advent Calendar
Designed to look like a row of books, this 24-day advent calendar is full of beautiful as well as useful stationery.
What's more, the green and pink compilation is made with 100 per cent recyclable packaging and contains no plastic.
£89 | Martha Brook | Pre-order now
Kikki K Stationery Lovers Advent Calendar
Swedish design brand Kikki K has launched a calendar just in time for the festive season filled with cute stationery that would liven up anyone’s work or home desk. Last year’s selection included star-covered pens, candles and pocket notepads, and you can expect a repeat this year. Think Insta-friendly paper clips, ribbon and other stationery accessories.
£90 | Kikki K | Buy it now
SockShop Advent Calendar
The answer to all our cold feet prayers, SockShop is selling four advent calendars for Christmas 2019. Designed for him and her, choose from 12 Days of Christmas and 25 Days of Christmas calendars, each housing 12 or 25 pairs of socks to keep your toes toasty all through the festive season. What's more, 15 per cent from each sale will be donated to Emmaus, a homelessness charity for men and women.
12 pair packs £45, 25 pair pack £80 | SockShop | Buy it now
Wedgwood Christmas 2019 Advent Calendar
This beautifully crafted advent calendar from luxury pottery brand Wedgwood is modelled on a traditional Georgian townhouse at Christmastime. It celebrates the company’s 260th anniversary and there are 24 blue and white boxes to open. We don’t want to give anything away by telling you the specifics but let’s just say each drawer reveals a delicate piece of décor to adorn your tree.
£600 | Harrods | Buy it now
The Naked Marshmallow Co. Advent Calendar
Pic 'n' mix your own marshmallow advent calendar this year thanks to The Naked Marshmallow Company. Its festive calendar allows you to select five delicious flavours online: S'mores, Milk & Cookies, Gingerbread, Butterscotch & Mint Choc Chip. There's more to this calendar than mallows though; you'll also find chocolate spoons to make a proper hot choc as well as jokes, fun facts and online discount codes on the inside of each door. Upgrade your calendar by adding on a toaster kit (£3.75), perfect for roasting marshmallows on an open fire.
£17.50 | The Naked Marshmallow Co. | Buy it now
Newby London Advent Calendar
After the exertion of Christmas shopping, wrapping, prepping and cooking, you're going to want to put your feet up for a breather.
Providing the perfect way to relax with the nation's favourite hot beverage, Newby Tea's visually stunning calendar is inspired by the intricate rituals of the ancient Japanese tea ceremony. The contents of no two drawers are the same, so you'll get to try a new blend every day until Christmas morning.
£59 | Newby Teas | Buy it now
English Tea Shop Book Style Christmas Night Tea Advent Calendar
Dive into a cup of organic hot tea every night until the big day with this tea advent calendar from English Tea Shop.
£14.99 | British Corner Shop | Buy it now
English Tea Shop Tea Advent Calendar 25 Pyramid Teabags
You don't have to shell out hundreds for a Christmas advent calendar - this one costs less than a tenner and lets you enjoy that very English tradition of an afternoon cuppa.
£6.49 | British Corner Shop | Buy it now
Pukka Teas Organic Advent Calendar 2019
Count down the days to Christmas in the most British of ways: with a cuppa of course! This unique calendar contains a selection of Pukka's finest tea blends, and gives you a legitimate reason to crack open the festive biscuits.
£9.99 | Bodykind | Buy it now
Nespresso Advent Calendar
Joining the advent calendar parade this year with its first ever box is Nespresso. The 24-day cube-shaped calendar will feature blends from the limited edition festive range as well as a selection of its popular pods.
There’s also an Origin Lungo Cup crafted from double-walled porcelain hidden behind one of the windows.
It’s the perfect way to count down to the big day for anyone who can’t start their day before a bolstering cup of coffee.
£25 | Nespresso | Buy it now
Harrods Coffee Capsule Advent Calendar (124.8g)
If you or someone you know simply can't start the day without a caffeine kick, this advent calendar should tick all the boxes.
Behind each of the 24 windows lies an Arabica coffee pod. Flavours are rightly festive; think cinnamon, caramel and roasted chestnuts. Yum.
£20 | Harrods | Buy it now
Pact Coffee Advent Calendar
Swap chocolate for coffee this year with this coffee advent calendar from Pact.
Offering a selection of 25 speciality coffees that have been sourced via direct trade, you'll start each December morning with a suitably festive brew.
£39.95 | Pact Coffee | Pre-order now
Waterdrop Advent Calendar
It's never too early to think about New Year resolutions, and if one of yours is to up your H2O intake, get a head start with this unusual calendar from Waterdrop.
Designed to inspire drinking more water every day, you'll find a selection of sugar-free flavours behind each of the calendar's windows.
Each drop is made to enrich your water with health-boosting fruit and plant extracts and vitamins, flavouring it to make water a pleasure to drink rather than a chore. Delivery will be made at the end of October.
£89.90 | Waterdrop | Buy it now
The Braille Advent Calendar
A time for goodwill to all, Christmas is as much for giving as it is for receiving. The not-for-profit social enterprise, Advent of Change, offers a selection of advent calendars which sees you donate to one of their 72 chosen charities every day until December 25.
Instead of indulging in a small treat every day, you'll give a £1 donation to a different charity for the first 24 days of December. Their 2019 range aims to raise £250,000 in total for their chosen charities, and includes a new braille design of a classic calendar, developed in partnership with the RNIB.
The new braille edition features 24 embossed pages with raised perforations detailing exactly what you've given, and who to. Good causes vary from clearing plastic from UK beaches, to offering shelter to a homeless person or helping to get life-changing medicine to a sick child.
£29.95 | Advent of Change | Buy it now
Also available from John Lewis
The Royal Mint’s advent calendar
Mixing traditional advent treats with the best the Royal Mint has to offer, this calendar hides 23 chocolate coins behind each window. On Christmas Eve, the recipient will open the final door to reveal a special edition 2019 Christmas medallion.
£28 | The Royal Mint | Buy it now
CEWE Photo Advent Calendar
If you're looking for a unique way to delight friends and family, how about an advent calendar that reminds them of good times, rather than one that delivers a physical treat? Choose 24 of your favourite images to hide behind each window of this Photo Advent calendar, ready to remind and help the recipient reminisce about your happy memories together.
If it just doesn't feel like an advent calendar without chocolate, there is a photo calendar with a Kinder or Ferrero Rocher option (both from £18.99), while those who like to do things their own way may prefer a DIY Fill Your Own Advent Calendar, in which you not only personalise the main image on the front of the box, but the contents too. Finally CEWE also offers a deluxe version, a freestanding design filled with indulgent chocolates and with a dual image feature.
From £8.99 | CEWE | Buy it now
Popcorn Shed Advent Calendar, 112g
If you want a sweet treat that's kinder to your waistline than chocolate, a popcorn-filled advent calendar ticks all the boxes. This is no ordinary calendar, gourmet flavours include Salted Caramel, Say Cheese and Pecan Pie.
£16 | John Lewis | Buy it now
Alison Gardiner Holly & Ivy Advent Pillar Candle
Offering a unique way to countdown to Christmas, light this lovely holly, ivy and robin-strewn candle every day until the big day.
Snowman version also available.
£8 | John Lewis | Buy it now
Mr Bingo's 2019 Advent Calendar
Part advent calendar, part artwork; this calendar from the illustrator Mr Bingo brings scratch-card fun to the festive season.
Instead of opening a new treat-filled drawer every December day, this calendar will have you scratching off removable opaque gold ink to reveal a character's outerwear every day until Christmas.
To what end? Just for the juvenile fun of it, as far as we can see. Best for adults only, each calendar is signed by the artist.
£44 | Mr Bingo | Buy it now
New Look Multicoloured 12 Days Cocktail Advent Calendar
Offering a dozen cocktail syrup mixers to liven up your festive drinks, this calendar works best when given in conjunction with a boozy calendar from our roundup.
£12.99 | New Look | Buy it now
Virgin Wines Advent Calendars 2019
For Christmas this year, Virgin Wines is ensuring it is better and merrier than ever before with an impressive five advent calendars, including the brands very first craft beer edition. There is also a premium gin option and an all red, all white and mixed variation. The advents include 24 different bottles of award-winning booze hailing from around the world.
From £69.99 | Virgin Wines | Buy it now
12 Family Films Advent Calendar
Give the gift of quality time together with this film-packed advent calendar from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Behind each of its 12 windows is a code to download and keep a family-friendly film, such as Arthur Christmas, Jumanji and Oliver!
All you need to do is register and download the Rakuten TV app, enter your daily voucher code and watch on any device, from the telly to your smartphone.
£25 | Zoom | Buy it now
Playin Choc Advent Calendar
Little kids will love this 24-drawer calendar which each hide an allergen free choc, fun 3D puzzle to build and fact card.
Illustrated with woodland scenes and critters, it's a design that's sure to delight inside and out.
£55 | Ocado | Buy it now
