There was always one rule in our house: one door a day, no skipping ahead. Somehow the chocolate behind it never lasted longer than the walk to school. Advent calendars still work that same little bit of magic, but the doors open onto very different things these days. Have a look at what Ireland is giving this year and you'll find more advent calendar ideas than you could use in one December. If you're curious how it all started, read the history of the advent calendar.
When does the advent calendar start?
Door one is always 1 December, and the last door is Christmas Eve. Advent itself begins a bit earlier, on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, at the end of November or the very start of December. If you're giving one as a present, get it to them before the end of November so they don't miss a single morning.
This year's favourites
Beauty is the big one. Space NK's calendar is the one everyone wants, and close behind it are two Irish names: Brown Thomas and the make-up brand Sculpted by Aimee. There's something about a calendar with a local story that people love.
Then there's Red Bull, which has quietly turned an energy drink into a December countdown. Lego fans get a little build every morning. Football mad kids get Match Attax cards. And fans of the squishy NeeDoh fidget toys are so keen that some are already hunting for next year's calendar before this one has even arrived.
What makes a calendar worth waiting for
Put those calendars side by side and a pattern shows up. Each one is a tiny ritual, the first thing you do before the kettle's even boiled. What's inside is small, but it's something you'd actually use or keep.
They also build up. Twenty-four football cards are a collection by Christmas Eve, and a Lego calendar ends with a whole scene on the windowsill. Most of all, they feel chosen. A calendar of make-up for the make-up lover, cards for the football fan: that's what makes someone smile at 7am on a cold Tuesday.
Advent calendar ideas worth stealing
You can borrow every one of those tricks for a calendar of your own:
- Twenty-four small Irish treats: fudge, tea, crisps, a bit of good chocolate.
- A different tea each morning, with a mug with their name on it to go with it.
- Little things they'd never buy themselves, like a fancy salt or a proper hand cream.
- Cards, stickers or pieces that make a full set by the 24th.
- Small stress-busters for the desk, a nod to the fidget toys everyone's after.
- A voucher behind each door for a coffee out or an afternoon off.
- Twenty-four notes about the year you've had together. Free, and the part that gets kept.
The classic, made yours
And then there's the one we all grew up with. The chocolate advent calendar is the oldest idea here, and still one of the best, especially once it has your name on it. Branded advent calendars carry your own design, logo or team photo on the front, with fair trade milk chocolate or a favourite like Kinder or Lindt Lindor behind every door. Everyone knows how it works, everyone loves it, and it sits on the desk for the whole of December, putting your brand in front of them every single morning.
So, what to put in an advent calendar?
A department store like Brown Thomas and an energy drink like Red Bull make advent calendars for the same reason. For 24 days, they're part of someone's morning, in the busiest month of the year. Not many gifts stay in view that long. So keep it simple: something small, something they'll love, and a little reason to come back tomorrow. If you're thinking about the rest of your December plans, our Christmas marketing ideas are a good read.
