MOST of us go for a chocolate advent calendar, but what about curry spice, pork crackling, jigsaw pieces or protein balls?
Here are some of the strangest alternative advent calendars you can buy this year to mix up your festive season.
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Some of the more popular non-chocolate calendars available this year include Aldi’s sell-out wine advent calendar and a movie night calendar.
You can even get a cheese advent calendar with eight cheese varieties to sample before Christmas.
Beauty advent calendars are also very popular, but can get pricey – the Jo Malone advent calendar will set you back a hefty £320.
But, these unusual options go even further, with something to appeal to even the strangest tastes:
Pork crackling advent calendar
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Do you prefer savoury over sweet? Then maybe a bit of crackling will take your fancy this December. This massive A3-sized calendar contains 24 mini packets of crackling and comes in three flavour varieties. You can sample a few flavours with the mixed option or buy the gluten free version for your celiac friend. Or, if you’re feeling brave, you could go for the “Pig of Doom” version, which has 24 days worth of super hot pork crackling.
- The Snaffling Pig Co Pork Crackling Advent Calendar, £17.50 – Buy it here
Colour in advent pillowcase
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Let your little one get creative without even getting out of bed. This colour in advent pillowcase has 24 fun designs for kids to work their magic on. There’s reindeers, penguins, trains, trees and elephants to colour in, as well as many more playful designs. It’s recommended that you colour the pillowcase with washable fabric pens (you can add them to your order for £4 extra) so you can reuse the pillowcase again and again every advent.
- Colour In Advent Pillowcase, £15 (£19 with six pack of fabric pens) – Buy it here
Curry advent calendar
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Spice up your Christmas with 12 days of curries from around the world. Behind each door is a spice packet and a recipe card to make a meal for up to four people. You can make a mild and creamy korma, a fiery Madras or an exotic Jamaican curry, plus many other delicious dishes.
- The Spicery 12 Curries of Christmas Advent Calendar, £29.95 – Buy it here
Protein ball advent calendar
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If you’re wanting a healthy alternative to the typical chocolate calendar, look no further than the Protein Ball Co advent calendar. The six protein ball flavours are all vegan, gluten free, packed with protein and made with all natural ingredients. There’s even an extra festive protein ball on Christmas Eve. It’s a limited edition product, though, so gym-lovers best act fast if they want one in time for December.
Jigsaw advent calendar
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The perfect advent calendar for anyone who wants to feed their mind this December, not their stomach. Behind each of the calendar’s 12 doors is an individual puzzle that will eventually combine on Christmas Eve to form one panoramic Christmas scene. For a limited time only, you can also get a free 250 piece Santa Scramble jigsaw bauble with your order.
- Gibsons Christmas Is Coming Jigsaw Advent Calendar, £20 – Buy it here
Sock advent calendar
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Want to brighten up your December and bring a little colour into your wardrobe? The Happy Socks advent calendar has you covered. There’s a different colourfully patterned sock for each day up to Christmas Eve. At nearly £150, this is a real luxury buy. But, if you’re really into funky socks, the advent calendar is actually a good deal. A pair of socks from Happy Socks costs around £12, saving you £138 compared to buying individually.
- Happy Socks Sock Advent Calendar, £149.95 – Buy it here
British Isles at Christmas advent calendar
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For the fact lover in the family. This calendar takes you on an advent tour of the British Isles, with 24 facts to discover. Each fact relates to a landmark cutout which you can slot into your calendar. Your wild journey will end in London on Christmas Eve, by which time you’ll have all kinds of knowledge to share with your friends. Perfect for prepping for New Year pub quizzes.
- The British Isles at Christmas Advent Calendar, £12.99 – Buy it here
Paperchase stationery advent calendar
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We all have that one friend that’s absolutely loves stationary. For them, everyday in December will be Christmas with the stationary advent calendar from Paperchase. Inside are pens, pencils, sticks, notebooks, cards and paper clips galore. There’s even a Paperchase voucher behind one door.
For just £10, you can also get a Marvel advent calendar with a book behind each door for the superhero fan in your family.
Baileys superfans will also be please to hear that there’s a Baileys advent calendar on sale in Asda with three different flavours.
And, if you’re look to save some cash this Christmas, here’s how to get two Thornton’s advent calendars for free.
