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  4. Heirloom Advent Calendars for a Classic Christmas

Heirloom Advent Calendars for a Classic Christmas

Southern Living May 2021 Cover
By Southern Living Editors
Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
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Heirloom Advent Calendars
Credit: Ingeborg Knol/Getty Images

While some of us count the days to Christmas by the Hallmark movie calendar or the holiday television special schedule, we think an Advent calendar is one of the most special ways to count the days. We've already rounded up our favorite annual Advent calendars from brands like LEGO, Diptyque, and Cadbury, but no Christmas season would be complete without an heirloom, and these reusable and refillable Advent calendars have all the makings of a classic Christmas tradition. Unpacking and using one of these Advent calendars year after year is sure to become a special Christmastime tradition that you and your family will look forward to. Counting down the days each morning leading to Christmas is a beloved memory, a moment each day spent with the whole family in joyful celebration and anticipation of Christmas. And, if you've filled your Advent calendar with pieces of candy or small gifts, it is a thrill for the little ones and moment to savor for the rest of the family too. Whether your Advent calendar is filled with 12, 24, or 25 days of gifts or counts the days by adding characters to a nativity scene or ornaments to a Christmas tree, you'll look forward to this special tradition every December.

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Merry & Bright Advent Calendar

Merry & Bright Advent Calendar
Credit: potterybarnkids.com

Buy it: $79, potterybarnkids.com

Personalize this whimsical wool Advent calendar with your family name for an instant heirloom.

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Gingerbread House Advent Calendar

Gingerbread House Advent Calendar
Credit: amazon.com

Buy it: $39.98, amazon.com

This charming gingerbread house-themed Advent calendar doubles as adorable wintertime decor.

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Snowman Advent Calendar

Snowman Advent Calendar
Credit: surlatable.com

Buy it: $50, surlatable.com

You'll be dreaming of a snowy season with this smiling snowman Advent Calendar.

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Melissa & Doug Wooden Advent Calendar

Melissa & Doug Wooden Advent Calendar
Credit: www.nordstrom.com

Buy it: $19.95, www.nordstrom.com

This wooden Advent calendar uses festive ornaments and a star topper to count the days left until Christmas.

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Reindeer Painted Advent Calendar

Reindeer Painted Advent Calendar
Credit: potterybarnkids.com

Buy it: $159, potterybarnkids.com

This lovely (and personalizable!) Advent calendar is made of hand-painted and silkscreened linen-canvas. It's ready to be hung; all it needs is for you to hide goodies within.

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Merry Mod Advent Calendar

Merry Mod Advent Calendar
Credit: landofnod.com

Buy it: $49, landofnod.com

Tuck small gifts for your little ones into this sweet advent calendar for a special yearly tradition.

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Holiday Lane Wood Christmas Tree Advent Calendar

Holiday Lane Wood Christmas Tree Advent Calendar
Credit: macys.com

Buy it: $86, macys.com

Count down the days to Christmas using this pretty potted Christmas tree design with seasonal, numbered wooden ornaments.

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3D Merry & Bright Snowman Advent Calendar

3D Merry & Bright Snowman Advent Calendar
Credit: potterybarnkids.com

Buy it: $129, potterybarnkids.com

This cheeky wool snowman is clad in a top hat and pom-pom scarf—and he's an Advent calendar!

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Nativity Fabric Advent Calendar

Nativity Fabric Advent Calendar
Credit: amazon.com

Buy it: $37.49, amazon.com

Each pocket of this calendar is filled with a stuffed figure to add to the nativity scene each day in December.

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Christmas Tree Advent Calendar

Christmas Tree Advent Calendar
Credit: neimanmarcus.com

Buy it: $98, neimanmarcus.com

If you're looking for a beautiful Advent calendar to treasure year after year, this ornately designed Christmas Tree-themed one should be on your list.

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Stocking Advent Calendar Garland

Stocking Advent Calendar Garland
Credit: landofnod.com

Buy it: $69, landofnod.com

This Advent calendar brings new meaning to "hanging the stockings by the chimney with care."

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Holiday Helper Advent Calendar

Holiday Helper Advent Calendar
Credit: landofnod.com

Buy it: $79, landofnod.com

Treat your holiday helper to this adorable calendar. You can order the calendar by itself, or you can order it already filled with precious toys.

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Christmas Tree Fabric Advent Calendar

Christmas Tree Fabric Advent Calendar
Credit: amazon.com

Buy it: $38.95, amazon.com

Thanks to this festive Advent calendar, you'll be decorating the Christmas tree every day until the 25th.

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Tall Snowman Advent Calendar

Tall Snowman Advent Calendar
Credit: amazon.com

Buy it: $49.99, amazon.com

This cheery snowman design has 24 drawers for Advent gifting.

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Telluride Advent Calendar

Telluride Advent Calendar
Credit: potterybarnkids.com

Buy it: $79, potterybarnkids.com

The pockets on this traditional, appliqued design are perfectly sized for tiny gifts or special Christmastime messages.

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Nativity Scene Advent Calendar

Nativity Scene Advent Calendar
Credit: amazon.com

Buy it: $44.99, amazon.com

Celebrate the season by displaying this beautiful wooden Advent calendar with a nativity scene centerpiece.

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Dylan's Candy Bar House Advent Calendar

Dylan’s Candy Bar House Advent Calendar
Credit: landofnod.com

Buy it: $69, landofnod.com

Add a sweet touch to your Advent calendar tradition with this fun design inspired by Dylan's Candy Bar. 

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Gilt Galvanized Advent Calendar

Gilt Galvanized Advent Calendar
Credit: potterybarn.com

Buy it: $169, potterybarn.com

The gleaming cups affixed to this handsome Advent calendar are framed with pine and finished with hand-painted gold gilt.

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Magnetic Christmas Tree Advent Calendar

Magnetic Christmas Tree Advent Calendar
Credit: etsy.com

Buy it: From $79.99, etsy.com

This cool steel tree is dressed up with numbered holiday ornaments throughout the month of December.

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Kurt Adler Peanuts Advent Calendar

Kurt Adler Peanuts Advent Calendar
Credit: amazon.com

Buy it: $27.50, amazon.com

Charlie Brown and the crew add a festive and nostalgic touch to this fun Advent calendar.

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Holly Jolly Christmas Magnetic Wooden Advent Calendar

Holly Jolly Christmas Magnetic Wooden Advent Calendar
Credit: amazon.com

Buy it: $17.99, amazon.com

Decorate the kids' room with this cute Advent calendar, and let the them decorate their own Christmas tree—sans falling evergreen needles.

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Kurt Adler Wooden Nativity Advent Calendar with 24 Magnetic Pieces

Kurt Adler Wooden Nativity Advent Calendar with 24 Magnetic Pieces
Credit: amazon.com

Buy it: $125, amazon.com

As you open the doors each day, you'll find a different character to add to the nativity scene.

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Make Your Own Christmas Advent Calendar

When it comes to Christmas, we can hardly contain our excitement as each day passes, getting us one step closer to our favorite day of the year. And, when December finally rolls around, we're quick to break out the advent calendar to help us count down each day until this special day. Now, there are plenty of adorable advent calendars out there you can buy to get the whole family in the spirit; but sometimes it's more fun to make your own. This DIY Advent Calendar really shows what some hot glue, felt, and store-bought yardsticks can get done, and you can pick any holiday-patterned paper you like to customize it. Make it a family activity, complete with hot chocolate, or a festive solo project while singing along to your favorite Christmas songs. It's sure to delight your crowd if you stash a little money, treats, or Bible verses in the paper pockets!

Here are the wood sizes you'll need. Start with five 24-inch yard sticks, and cut down to the sizes below:

One 23-inch piece One 20-inch piece One 17-inch piece One 12-inch piece One 9.5-inch piece

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    1 of 23 Merry & Bright Advent Calendar
    2 of 23 Gingerbread House Advent Calendar
    3 of 23 Snowman Advent Calendar
    4 of 23 Melissa & Doug Wooden Advent Calendar
    5 of 23 Reindeer Painted Advent Calendar
    6 of 23 Merry Mod Advent Calendar
    7 of 23 Holiday Lane Wood Christmas Tree Advent Calendar
    8 of 23 3D Merry & Bright Snowman Advent Calendar
    9 of 23 Nativity Fabric Advent Calendar
    10 of 23 Christmas Tree Advent Calendar
    11 of 23 Stocking Advent Calendar Garland
    12 of 23 Holiday Helper Advent Calendar
    13 of 23 Christmas Tree Fabric Advent Calendar
    14 of 23 Tall Snowman Advent Calendar
    15 of 23 Telluride Advent Calendar
    16 of 23 Nativity Scene Advent Calendar
    17 of 23 Dylan's Candy Bar House Advent Calendar
    18 of 23 Gilt Galvanized Advent Calendar
    19 of 23 Magnetic Christmas Tree Advent Calendar
    20 of 23 Kurt Adler Peanuts Advent Calendar
    21 of 23 Holly Jolly Christmas Magnetic Wooden Advent Calendar
    22 of 23 Kurt Adler Wooden Nativity Advent Calendar with 24 Magnetic Pieces
    23 of 23 Make Your Own Christmas Advent Calendar

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