Each year we make it a tradition to count down the days from December 1 until Christmas. It increases the holiday spirit and creates anticipation. There are many Advent Calendar Ideas for creating a Christmas countdown, some of them include family activities or small gifts or candy each day, while others are just simple ways to mark the passing of time in a festive way.
40+ Advent Calendar Ideas
Here are a list of several Advent Calendars, some we have used in the past and some we hope to use in the future. Enjoy!
Non-gift Advent Calendars
- Clay Ornament Advent
- Clipboard Advent
- TP Roll Advent – w/activity listed on paper inside each roll
- Matchbox Advent – w/activity listed on paper inside each box
- Advent Pillow – LOVED this idea!
- Free Printable Christmas Story Advent Calendar
- Chalkboard Advent
- Envelope Advent – with daily activities
- Quilted Wall Hanging Advent
- Felt Ornament Advent – I grew up with one like this. And let me tell you, it was a BIG deal if one of the siblings went out of order and put the ornament on the tree on someone else's day!
- String of Cards Advent
- Clothespin Advent – w/activity cards
- Advent Calendar on DVD
- Sticker Nativity Advent
- Grinch Kabobs Advent
- Mailable Advent Cards
- Paper Chain Advent
- Melk, the Christmas Monkey
Gift Advent Calendars
- Counting down with books – we did this for Christmas 2012 and loved it!
- Outdoorsman's Advent
- Matchbox Advent – w/small candies in each box
- Muffin Tin Advent
- Snowman Cone Advent
- Grinch Advent – First few days tell bits of story, last few days include gifts
- Socks & Bags Advents
- Tin Pail Advent – with ideas for crafters gifts
- Felt Mitten Advent
- Birdcage Advent
- Shabby Chic Advent
- Picture Frame Advent
- Surprise Box Advent
- Recycled Jeans Advent
- Clothespin Advent – w/gifts
- Mini-book Advent
Food Gift Advent Calendars
* you could also use candy, lollipops, cookies, etc. in many of the Gift Advent Calendars
- TP Roll Advent – w/small candies hidden in each roll
- A Cookie a Day Advent
- A Recipe a Day Advent – use a non-gift method to declare which holiday recipe your family will make and enjoy together each day
Other Advent Ideas
- Other Advent Calendar Ideas
- Teaching God's Character at Advent with Melk the Christmas Monkey
- Christmas Advent Bible Copywork Pages
- Advent Calendar Coloring Page Printable
- Color a Star a Day Advent Printable
- Advent Calendar Templates
- Printable Advent Countdown Number Tags
- Celebrate Jesus: With Acts of Giving for Families
- Truth in the Tinsel Advent Activities
- The Christmas Angel
- Elf on the Shelf
This post is part of the 20 Days of Ultimate Christmas Lists Series on Paradise Praises. You can get all of these incredibly helpful Christmas lists in this year's Christmas ebook.
