Tis’ (almost) the season: 6 non-traditional British advent calendars

Have you started playing Christmas music yet? I haven’t.

For me, Christmas begins with the advent season and leads up to a day spent with family, good food, drinks, full spirits and lots of fun.

I love a good advent calendar. Mind you, my favourites are the ones with adult beverages but I do like discovering unusual or ethical calendars.

With that in mind, here are 5 non-traditional UK made advent calendars for you.

1. Bird & Blend Tea Advent Calendar

Winter means endless cups of tea! What’s not to love about a different blend each day?

I’m a traditional tea drinker, but I don’t mind the occasional foray into oolong and macha, cinnamon and spice. It’s a great way to unwind and discover new and tasty combinations.

If matcha is your thing, there’s also this one.

Bird & Blend Tea Advent Calendar

2. Seedlings Cards & Gifts Seed Advent Calendar

This advent combines two of my favourite things. Christmas and Spring.

Winter is awesome and all, but spring? Spring’s the real thing. Everything comes to life. Christmas ending means that I have spring to look forward to.

This calendar contains packets of British grown wildflower varieties that will attract butterflies and bees and help re-build lost habitats along with a bit of gardening wisdom for each day.

Seedlings Cards & Gifts Seed Advent Calendar

3. Advent of Change calendar

The true spirit of Christmas is not about receiving and for that reason I absolutely love this one.

One of our members, EQ Investors, has been key in supporting this initiative that turns consumerism upside down by inviting people to give rather than receive through the advent season.

Advent of Change calendar

Last year, this advent calendar raised £100,000 for its 24 chosen charities. This year they’ve added a new braille calendar, a child-friendly calendar and a premium calendar.

Advent of Change hopes to more than double the amount raised last year, and help a total of 72 charities – 48 more than in 2018.

27-year old Kristina Salceanu from Warwickshire, founder of Advent of Change

4. Ellbie 24 day Crafting Advent calendar.

If the Christmas spirit moves you to create, bring your creativity to life with this advent calendar stuffed full of fun, woodland rainbow themed craft kits.

They are suitable for beginners and come with easy instructions to get started.

You might learn a new thing, or twenty four!

Ellbie 24 day Crafting Advent calendar.

5. Create Gift Love Personalised Children’s Activity Advent Calendar

Children always have the most fun at Christmas, probably because of all the sugar in holiday treats but hey, everyone needs a bit of fun.

This awesome calendar combines experiences and anticipation by allowing kids to do 24 festive activities over the advent period. Plus it can be reused year after year.

What a great way of incorporating your own family traditions into these boards!

Create Gift Love Personalised Children’s Activity Advent Calendar

6. Gibson’s Christmas Street Countdown Calendar

Unbox twelve festive surprises this December with this beautiful and fun. Christmas countdown puzzle.

Behind each door you’ll find an irresistible treat in the form of an 80 piece jigsaw.

The twelve puzzles eventually create one gorgeous, panoramic, Christmas scene.

Perfect for the puzzle addict.

Gibson’s Christmas Street Countdown Calendar

Or you could always go DIY and make your own.

After all, the fun of an advent calendar is in the anticipation of opening those 24 doors, one day at a time.

 

Preeti is the Marketing Manager at Blue Patch. Born and raised in India, she spent some time in the US, completing a degree in Psychology and Biology, after which she moved to the UK in 2010 to study an MSc in Finance and Management. She can often be found obsessing over her plants, trying to clamp down on an ever-increasing collection of nail polish or exploring and taking photos of random corners of London. She hasn’t actually had an advent calendar all to herself before (ever!) but creates fun advent boxes for her nieces annually. 

Related blogs:

4 tips for a greener Christmas

Ethical investments as gifts

For business owners:

6 ways to get your business ready for the holiday season.

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