13 Unique Advent Calendars for Adults to Get You in the Holiday Spirit
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and excitement is in the air. Little ones love counting down the days until Santa drops in—but it’s not just kids who can’t wait for the holidays to roll in. Which is where Advent calendars for adults come in. In the 1900s, Germans invented the cardboard calendar with a 24-day countdown to December 25. Early Advent calendars were made of cardboard and featured pictures, little trinkets or chocolate, providing just the right measured dose of anticipation and delight leading up to Christmas for children. But since then, they’ve gotten pretty fancy-schmancy, and it’s no surprise that adults want in on the fun too. This list contains Advent calendars for every adult—for the tea sipper, wine drinker, beauty maven and others—that’ll have you giddy, wide-eyed and looking forward to the holidays like a kid all over again.
All that glitters will be your mani and pedi with this beauty Advent calendar by London brand Ciaté, featuring 22 polishes in a rainbow of shimmery, creamy and glittery shades. Plus, they’re part of the brand’s gel-wear GEOLOGY formula, meaning you’ll be able to rock your mani-pedi all December long.
Buy it: $60, Sephora.com
What goes hand in hand with a pretty mani? Pampered skin, of course. Each of the 24 windows of this beauty Advent calendar for adults features a hidden gem of goodness, from rose-scented hand cream to cherry blossom shower gel.
Buy it: $64, Nordstrom.com
A few years ago, when the German supermarket giant unveiled it was releasing an affordable wine Advent calendar for the holidays, people (rightfully) lost their minds. Good tidings in the form of 187-milliliter bottles of red, white and bubbly will have you asking, “When is it wine o’clock again?” Get yours before it sells out!
Buy it: $67, on sale starting November 6 in select Aldi stores
Vinebox Wine Advent Calendar
If the famed Aldi wine Advent calendar is “been there, done that” for you, try this one from Vinebox. With 12 glasses of specially curated bold reds and refreshing whites, you’ll be counting down the holidays in festive spirit.
Buy it: $129, VINEBOX.com
What’ll get you up and out of bed like a kid on Christmas morning? This Yawn coffee Advent calendar for adults. It features 24 craft brews with beans sourced from India, Columbia, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Kenya, Java, Papua New Guinea, Sumatra and Brazil. One contented sigh, coming right up.
Buy it: $32 to $63, Etsy.com
You can’t have a list of Advent calendar ideas without a chocolate option! This one from Williams Sonoma has a pretty vintage display inspired by the 19th-century American poem A Visit from St. Nicholas. Unwrap a colorful milk chocolate for each day leading up to Christmas.
Buy it: $60, Williams-sonoma.com
If 14 days of Christmas seems more your speed, then look no further than Birchbox’s Countdown to Beauty Advent calendar for adults. It features deluxe sample and full-size products from best-selling brands, including Benefit’s They’re Real Lengthening Mascara, Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Cream and Davines OI All in One Milk Conditioner (it has over 42,000 reviews!).
Buy it: $40, Birchbox.com
You’ll need plenty of tea to unwind after all the shopping, gift wrapping and card-writing that’s in store for the holidays. This Advent calendar from DAVIDsTEA, a Canadian tea purveyor, offers two servings for each day—because let’s face it, one cup is never enough. Some of their fun Advent calendar flavors include Candy Cane Crush, Gingerbread Blondie, S’mores Chai and Santa’s Secret.
Buy it: $40, DAVIDsTEA.com
Who could use a hot toddy right about now? Whether you take your whiskey straight-up or in an Old Fashioned cocktail, you can get it any which way ’til Christmas day with this whisky Advent calendar. The calendar includes samples from Texas single malts to Japanese blends and Scotch whiskey, all kept inside 24 handmade 30-millimeter wax-sealed drams. Cheers!
Buy it: $160, TheSpiritCo.com
If you’re looking for Advent calendar ideas to spice up the holiday season, look no further. This pick includes 25 two-ounce bottles of hot sauces made the old-fashioned Creole way. The peppers used to make the sauces include Carolina Reaper, Trinidad Scorpion, Ghost Pepper, Habaneroi, Serrano, Scotch Bonnet and more.
Buy it: $80, Amazon.com
If No-Shave November is growing on you, check out this bestselling Advent calendar for adults from The Bearded Man Company. It features 24 beard oils, each with a different scent to help your beard smell amazing everyday leading up to Christmas.
Buy it: $43, Etsy.com
The countdown to Christmas never tasted so sweet! This fun candy Advent calendar from Sugarfina—the luxury candy store behind those champagne gummy bears you’ve seen everywhere, from birthday parties to baby showers—is the perfect way to indulge your sweet tooth. Each drawer holds four pieces of candy.
Buy it: $40, PaperSource.com
Edible treats are always reliable go-to Advent calendar ideas, but there’s something to be said for shiny baubles to light up your days. This limited edition jewelry Advent calendar from Tiffany’s—with a six-figure price tag—takes luxe to the next level (and beyond). Inside, you’ll find a collection of 24 gifts, all hidden in a keepsake replica of Tiffany’s Fifth Avenue flagship store. The gifts range from signature jewelry to household items, including a key ring and rocking horse ornament, both made from sterling silver.
Buy it: $112,000, Tiffany.com
Updated November 2019 Plus, more from The Bump:
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