Originally, advent calendars were made from cardboard and included surprise chocolates in Santa Claus’s shape. While we all treasured the moment when we could finally enjoy our sweet treat every day, 2021 options offer some great alternatives.

These days, there’s advent calendars for all types of people. Whether you’re a fan of wine, beauty, “Harry Potter,” baking, jewelry, skincare — you name it, there’s probably an advent calendar for it. There’s tons of great options for kids, too. Hot Wheels are a great choice for your child. Barbie? They’ve got it!

While the holidays are always extra busy — shopping for epic gifts, putting up the tree, baking away in the kitchen — you deserve to sit back, relax and take a moment for yourself in December, too! The perfect way to get some R&R? Advent calendars. They are a way to make sure you end your day on a positive note, regardless of how crazy it may seem.

You can find over 35 amazing options for both adults and children at a variety price points. Order quickly, because the most desired items are often gone in a flash!

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The Best Advent Calendars

1. Godiva Holiday Luxury Chocolate Advent Calendar, 40

Christmas-time isn’t the same without a little chocolate! Godiva has created an annual advent calendar that features milk chocolates, dark chocolates, and white chocolates. It includes a jolly Santa Clause and a cute penguin.

2. L’Occitane Classic Advent Calendar, $79

L’Occitane’s Classic Advent Calendar is back again and it’s filled with some of the brand’s most popular products like the Almond Shower Oil, award-winning Immortelle Overnight Reset Oil-in-Serum and a bundle of their bestselling hand creams including classic shea butter.

3. Food52 x Stone Hollow Farmstead Advent Calendar. $275

Food52 x Stone Hollow is the perfect advent calendar for people who love food! Behin each door you’ll find things like jams, jellies, pickles, and even intricate finds like a botanical drinking vinegar.

4. Playlist of UncommonGoods Holiday Scratch off Advent Calendar Playlist, $25

All music lovers are invited! While it’s usually not the norm, scratching This record is encouraged — it’s an advent calendar! Each day, you’ll scratch off a number to reveal a QR code. You can scan the code to download a carol performed by an emerging artist. 

5. Cheryl’s Cookies 12 Days of Christmas Advent Calendar Gift Box, $37

Sugary sweets are a part of the holiday season! Let your kiddos enjoy a tasty cookie for the 12 day countdown to Christmas with Cheryl’s buttercream frosted cookies.

The Best Advent Calendars For Everyone

1. UncommonGoods Advent Steamer Set, $98

This advent calendar, filled with shower steamers, is perfect for those who love to make their bath and shower a spa experience.

2. Ciaté London Vegan Nail Polish Advent Calendar 2021, $65

Do you love to paint your nails? Ciaté London’s vegan nail polish advent calendar is filled with awesome shades you’ll be able to enjoy this holiday season and beyond.

3. Star Trek Borg Cube Advent Calendar $150

If you’re a huge fan of “Star Trek”, or know of someone who is, this Borge Cube advent calendar will be right up their alley. It’s filled with 24 high-quality festive gifts and accessories from beyond the final frontier.

4. Pottery Barn Lit Glitter House Advent Calendar Multi (Multi, $129)

This Pottery Barn advent calendar is beautiful and can be used in many homes. Just place a note or small treat inside each window to make the countdown to Christmas fun for everyone.

5. UncommonGoods 25 Days Until Christmas Candle, $22

Don’t have space for a full-on advent calendar? This candle is the perfect way to get into the holiday spirit if you don’t want to splurge on a larger option.

6. Rifle Paper Co. Advent Calendar, $18

The Rifle Paper Co. Advent Calendar is by far one of the most inexpensive picks on our list, but it’s just as cute! If you’re not looking to spend too much this holiday season, consider buying this festive but budget-friendly option.

7. Williams Sonoma x The Mandalorian™ Advent Calendar, $40

No matter what age you are, everyone can appreciate the Disney Plus “Star Wars” series spinoff “The Mandalorian.” So if you’re a fan, you’ll definitely love this Mandalorian-themed Advent Calendar from Williams Sonoma.

8. Harry Potter: Holiday Magic: The Official Advent Calendar. Original price: $19

If you or a loved one consider yourselves to be a “Harry Potter” groupie, this is definitely the advent calendar to buy this year!

9. Wufers Cookie Advent Calendar 2021, $60

Even your furbaby can join in the advent calendar fun this holiday!

The Best Advent Calendars for Adults

1. Bonne Maman 2021 Limited Edition Advent Calendar, $35

The Bonne Maman 2021 Advent Calendar is a limited edition that’s perfect for foodies! Each day, you’ll be surprised with new flavors of jam that you can pair with cheese, toast and so much more.

2. GlossyBox ‘Surprise Me’ Advent Calendar 2021, $99

The 2021 GlossyBox Advent Calendar is filled with items valued at over $550! For the 25 days leading up to Christmas unwrap more than 25 beauty treats worth brands like Glow Recipe, ELEMIS, Viktor&Rolf and Medik8.

3. UncommonGoods 24 Days Advent Calendar for Tea, $32

If you can’t spend a morning without tea, then you’ll definitely appreciate this 24 Days of Tea advent calendar. You might be used a certain brew but you might discover your new favorite!

4. Benefit Cosmetics the More The Merrier Christmas Calendar Set, $65

12 days of mini Benefit Cosmetics products available this holiday season! This makeup advent calendar features the popular Hoola bronzer, They’re Real Mascara, The POREfessional Face Primer, Gimme Brow and more.

5. Brewvana 12 Beers of Christmas Beer Box, $195

Explore 12 new brews this year with the Brewvana Christmas Beer Box from juicy double IPAs to rich chocolatey stouts — all from local breweries all over the country. The box includes a Brewvana winter beanie with embroidery, a chocolate tasting guide, and other brewery swag.

6. Friends, Official Advent Calendar 2021 Edition, $25

“Friends” just keeps on giving! In this year’s edition of the popular show’s advent calendar you can enjoy 25 days of brand-new keepsakes and trinkets ranging from fun paper ornaments to classic recipe cards inspired by the show and more.

7. World Market 12 Days of Hot Sauce Advent Calendar $25

If you find yourself putting hot sauce on just about every meal then you’ll definitely enjoy trying out a new one every day!

8. Sephora Collection Holiday Vibes Advent Calendar, $45

Sephora’s branded advent calendar features makeup, skincare, bath, and accessories hidden in the 24 reusable boxes.

Best Advent Calendars for Children

1. Melissa & Doug Countdown to Christmas Wooden Advent Calendar, $20

The Melissa & Doug Wooden Countdown to Christmas Advent Calendar is great for all ages, budget-friendly and has more than 4,400 raving reviews on Amazon.com.

2. Hot Wheels 2021 Advent Calendar – $20

Hot Wheels are a favorite toy of your child. They’ll definitely be thrilled when you bring this advent calendar home then!

3. L.O.L. Surprise 2021 Advent Calendar, $31

Make your kids’ Christmas countdown even more special by including their favorite toy: L.O.L. Surprise! This advent calendar features 25+ clothing and accessory surprises.

4. Barbie Color Reveal Advent Calendar, $30

Another fun option is to choose the Barbie Color Reveal Advent Calendar. Your child will enjoy opening the 25 daily surprises, which include one Barbie Color Reveal doll as well as one Color Reveal pet husky puppy.

5. LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar, $32, Original Price: $40

You can’t go wrong with the LEGO “Star Wars” advent calendar. It comes with 24 surprises from the Disney+ “Mandalorian” season 2 characters, vehicles, weapons and accessories. You can also enjoy an advent calendar for LEGO City, LEGO Friends, LEGO Marvel Avengers and LEGO “Harry Potter” kits.

6. Victostar Fantastic Slime Advent Calendar 2021. $14

What little one doesn’t love a daily dose of slime? This advent calendar is filled with 24 small containers of Fantastic Slime, they’re bound to enjoy everyday before Christmas.

7. Williams Sonoma Christmas Popcorn Advent Calendar – $38, original Price: $55

Make watching your kids’ favorite holiday movies even more fun with Williams Sonoma’s Christmas Popcorn Advent Calendar.

8. Playmobil “Christmas Ball” Advent Calendar, $58

Playmobil advent calendars will allow your child to create an amazing Christmas ball that they can use all year.

9. Funko Pop! “The Office” Advent Calendar 2021, $40, original price: $60

If you and your children consider yourself The Office fans, you won’t be able to get enough of the Funko Pop! An advent calendar inspired by your favorite TV show.

10. The Purple Cow Crazy Scientist Advent Calendar 2021. $40

The Purple Cow has a STEM advent calendar that you can use to teach your kids fun and engaging ways. Each box has a different experiment that science enthusiasts can enjoy for hours.

11. UncommonGoods Advent Calendar, Train Station Buildable, $40

Children can count down until Christmas while they build a train set one piece at a time.

12. UncommonGoods Cookie Making Advent Calendar, $70

25 days of speciality baking ingredients, tools and recipes will help you count down to Christmas. While the flavor of cookies are a surprise (in true advent calendar tradition) — hot chocolate lovers, peppermint purists, shortbread snackers, and all holiday cookie connoisseurs will be satisfied. 

13. D-FantiX Dinosaur Advent Calendar 2021, $37

The D-FantiX Toys advent Calendar contains 24 mini dinosaur figures that children can set up themselves.

Best Luxury Advent Calendars

1. Jo Malone Advent Calendar 2021. $450

If you’re looking to spoil yourself this holiday season, Jo Malone’s luxurious scent advent calendar is certainly the way to do it!

2. VineBox 12 Nights of wine, $129

If you’re a big wine drinker, you won’t be disappointed in VineBox’s epic 12 Nights of Wine advent calendar.

3. Flaviar Whiskey Advent Calendar, $250

Consider gifting yourself this galaxy-inspired advent planner, which features your favorite brand of alcohol.

4. Sterling Forever 24 Days Of Jewelry Advent Calendar, $499 Original Price: $1,354

With this fancy jewelry Advent Calendar from Sterling Forever, make everyday feel like Christmas in December

5. Food52 x Poppy Handcrafted Popcorn Advent Calendar. Original Price: $150

The Food52 x Poppy Handcrafted Popcorn Advent calendar includes 24 1-cup bags of 12 different flavors deluxe popcorn from, you’ve guessed it, Poppy Handcrafted Popcorn.

Check out the New York Post Shopping section for more online recommendations.