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Good Housekeeping published a shopping roundup of 18 Advent calendars built around products and activities other than chocolate. The options range from tea, coffee and beauty items to mini books, craft projects and children’s toys; prices, availability and suitability vary by product.
Good Housekeeping has published a list of 18 Advent calendars that replace or supplement the usual chocolate with items such as tea, coffee, candles, beauty products, books, toys and craft patterns. The roundup is a shopping guide rather than a report of a new product launch, and the source material does not give its publication date or confirm current stock and prices.
The selection spans calendars with different countdown lengths and contents. Several offer 12 days, including calendars featuring tea, Voluspa candles, OPI nail polish, ChapStick and alcoholic drinks. Other options cover 24 days, while the crochet calendar provides 25 patterns. The number of compartments does not always match the number of individual items: Good Housekeeping says a Friends-themed calendar contains 40 trinkets and surprises in pockets.
Food and drink choices include tea bags, coffee for brewing one pot per daily door, Bonne Maman mini jam jars in assorted flavors and a honey calendar with different varietals and related goods. The list also features 12 hard seltzers, with the source noting that the seller offers beer, canned cocktails and sparkling wine calendars as alternatives. Those products are for adults of legal drinking age, and readers should drink responsibly.
For other interests, the roundup includes 24 mini classic books, a crystal collection, 18 full-size products among 24 surprises in an e.l.f. beauty calendar, festive socks, beard oils, rubber ducks and a magnetic tree with ornaments. The source describes the calendars’ contents but does not provide a full, consistently comparable breakdown of price, shipping, age guidance or availability for all 18 picks.
More Choices for Holiday Countdowns
The roundup shows how Advent calendars can be tailored to different interests, ages and routines, rather than being limited to sweets. A tea or coffee calendar offers a consumable daily treat; a book or crochet calendar adds a small activity; and the magnetic ornament tree gives children a reusable countdown task. These differences can help shoppers choose a gift that fits the recipient better than a standard chocolate box.
The range also makes the practical details matter. A 12-day calendar does not provide a daily item throughout December, while a calendar of miniatures or food may not suit every recipient. Shoppers need to check product contents, dates, price and any relevant age or dietary information with the seller before buying. The article’s selection is a set of recommendations, not an independent guarantee that each item will be available or meet every buyer’s needs.
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A Countdown Beyond Sweets
Advent calendars traditionally mark the days leading up to Christmas, often with a small chocolate behind each door. Retailers and brands now sell versions organized around specific products and hobbies. Good Housekeeping’s list reflects that variety, grouping ideas around food and drink, beauty, collectibles and activities.
The source names products and describes features such as candle size, stated burn time and calendar contents. For example, it says the Voluspa calendar contains 12 candles of 2.5 ounces each and that the brand gives an estimated burn time of about 25 hours per candle. That figure is attributed to Voluspa in the source; it is not presented as independently tested by the roundup.
““each door contains two bags of the same flavor””
— Good Housekeeping
Prices and Stock Need Checking
The supplied report does not establish when the roundup was published, whether the products remain in stock, or whether listed discounts and prices are current. It also does not provide complete pricing and shipping information for every calendar. The descriptions are not a standardized comparison of value, ingredients, materials or product testing.
Some details may require checking before purchase, including the exact flavors or designs in a box, whether a calendar is suitable for a particular age, and any food or drink ingredients. The source does not give full allergen information for the food calendars or detailed age guidance for every toy and collectible. Buyers should consult the current product listing and packaging rather than relying on the roundup alone.
Check Listings Before Ordering
Readers interested in a particular pick should use the roundup as a shortlist, then verify the current seller listing for price, stock, delivery dates and the exact contents. For food and drink calendars, check ingredients, allergens and any age restrictions; for alcoholic products, confirm legal-age eligibility and drink responsibly. The source provides no announced follow-up or later update, so whether Good Housekeeping will revise the recommendations is unknown.
Key Questions
How many Advent calendars are in the roundup?
Good Housekeeping lists 18 alternatives to chocolate-focused calendars, covering food, drink, beauty, books, toys, crafts and other interests.
Do all of the calendars cover 24 days?
No. The roundup includes several 12-day calendars, many 24-day options and a crochet calendar with 25 patterns. Check the individual product listing for its countdown length.
Are the products currently available?
The supplied source does not confirm current stock or prices. Availability can change, so check the retailer’s listing before ordering.
Are any of the calendars alcoholic?
Yes. The roundup includes a 12-can hard seltzer calendar and says the seller also offers beer, canned cocktails and sparkling wine calendars. These are for adults of legal drinking age; drink responsibly.
What should shoppers check before buying a food calendar?
Review the current package or product page for ingredients, allergens, portion details and delivery timing. The roundup does not provide complete allergen information for every food item.
Source: goodhousekeeping.com
