Our newspaper has recently been devoting a lot of space to the subject of advent calendars. Whenever I talk about reading the paper I always feel like I’m a throwback from another era, like my Nanna when she used to sing Victorian Music Hall songs to me. Still, I do love to read an actual newspaper. Like us, journalists probably enjoy a break from the news and it’s always fun to read about the latest, ridiculously extravagant advent calendars.
The most expensive one in the UK is retailing at £21,995 and contains 23 items of jewellery. Why not 24, I wonder? Maybe the final day contains a policy for the extra insurance. Apparently, this is a bargain because the jewellery included is worth £25,515, saving you £3,520 off the regular price. Forget fixed-rate savings bonds, this is obviously where your money should be invested. By contrast, Dior’s advent calendar containing fragrance, skin care and makeup is a snip at £450. At the more modest end, Whittard is selling its tea advent calendar at a much more affordable £25. Still, a fair bit of money for a few tea bags.
One columnist was feeling nostalgic for the days when you just opened a door and found a chocolate hidden inside and this is certainly a cheaper option: you can pick up a Divine dark chocolate calendar for £4. I’m just not sure about the whole thing. So much unnecessary packaging and all you’re getting at the end is a modest chocolate. It feels like we’ve fallen for the corporate marketing campaign yet again.
When I was a child my brothers and I had one advent calendar between us and it was taken out every year. My father had mounted it on a frame and put a light bulb at the back. On December 1st the calendar was ritually hung on the wall. The light made the little pictures glow from behind and we thought it was magical. We took it in turns to open the doors and at the start of the month each one of us did quick mental calculations trying to ensure we would be the one to open the door to reveal the special nativity scene on the 24th. There was much arguing and misremembering about who had enjoyed the privilege the previous year. A chocolate advent calendar each might have been more peaceful, but even now I can picture that calendar glowing on the wall.
I still bring out the same advent calendar every year, although not the one from my childhood. This one’s a picture of a pretty little house covered in snow and when you open the doors they reveal some nostalgic Christmassy item like a clockwork mouse. It’s nothing special, but it generates no waste and I don’t feel like I’m being manipulated by an international mega-company into buying something I don’t need or even want. I also have my mother’s old advent calendar and I treasure that too. Each day I open a window in both calendars and then treat myself to one of my favourite Baci chocolates. I’m only human after all.
What lovely memories of advent calendars you have! I’ve occasionally bought one for us but I don’t remember ever having an advent calendar as a child. I’ll have to ask my two brothers if they remember one but as the eldest is 11 years older than me – and our middle brother is in a care home – I’m not sure their memories will be any better than mine! But thanks for sharing your memories – as ever, they made me smile. 😊🎄🎅
Don’t encourage me – there are plenty more where that came from!