1.2K Well, the countdown to Christmas 2016 has begun, -21 days! Among all the pre-Christmas traditions, the one of displaying an Advent Calendar on December the 1st, is probably among the most common ones and the one least related to a strict religious custom, hence more broadly adopted. The word Advent derives from the Latin “adventus” or “arrival’ and non-christians have adopted the calendar as simply a fun countdown to winter celebrations. Through the years it has developed from a simple traditional calendar with 24 or 25 openable windows and a liturgical image behind it to some more extravagant and sophisticated ones revealing luxurious treats. You can now buy calendars with chocolates, empty ones to fill up yourself, calendars already filled with luxurious items, calendars for adults and calendars for kids, and for the more conscious and less consumerist among us, you can now download virtual calendars from the web. Here are some of my favourite ones around the world, for both adults and kids. My absolute favour is the Fortnum & Mason Wooden Advent Calendar on sale for £90. An elegant wooden calendar decorated with the store’s ironing façade of the London store in Piccadilly. 24 spaces with small numbered doors behind which you can hide little treats. Fortnum & Mason Wooden Advent Calendar Although sold out days before December started, the Marks & Spencer Ultime Beauty Advent Calendar is a real indulgent one. The lucky ladies who managed to get hold of one are now pampering themselves with bestselling beauty treats from Nuxe, Nails Inc, Rodial, REN, just to name a few. Marks and Spencer Ultimate Beauty Calendar There is no kids’ Christmas if there is no Lego. The 2016 Lego City Advent Calendar is a 290 pieces kit that will certainly keep you busy building it. It comes with buildings, vehicles, minifigures, and surprisingly, Santa’s sleigh is being pulled by a husky! Times are changing also for reindeers. Lego City Advent Calendar If you can’t renounce the a traditional Chocolate Advent Calendar, Belgian master chocolatiers Godiva have created a luscious box filled with 25 pieces of the finest milk, dark and white chocolates from the maison’s most popular assortment. Godiva If you are into beauty, there are SO many incredible calendars to choose from. From Jo Malone, to Kiehls, from Dyptique to Charlotte Tilbury. This year’s winner however must be Ciaté London Advent Calendar! 24 days of Paint Pots, treatments and surprises for those looking for the ultimate holiday beauty. Coat London …and this is my very own Advent Calendar. It may be not Fortnum & Mason’s one, but it is still bringing much joy to the kids. I purchased the re-usable calendar from Flying Tiger for €10 and filled it up with some little treats! My very own Advent Calendar! “Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas, prosperous and healthy 2017!” Advent CalendarsChristmas 2016Ciate LondonFlying TigerFortnum & MasonGodivaLego CityMarks & Spencer