What is a traditional advent calendar?
A traditional advent calendar, much like any other, is a fun way to count down the days to Christmas. What makes it traditional, though, is the design.
Traditional advent calendars usually have a picture or illustration of a biblical scene either of a manger or the nativity, Father Christmas or St Nicholas, or a snowy, winter scene.
Most traditional advent calendars still have doors to open every day, behind them either a quote, festive poem, Christmas scene or a chocolate treat.
How long is a traditional advent calendar?
The number of doors on a traditional advent calendar varies between 12 days, 24 days and 25 days. Originally, traditional advent calendars had 12 doors to celebrate the 12 days of Christmas, but nowadays most of them have 24 or 25 doors starting from 1st December until Christmas day.
12 traditional advent calendars for 2021
1. Winter Owl advent calendar, £10, Angela Harding
!["traditional]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/19/2021/11/01.-Angela-Harding-39dc05f.png?quality=90&resize=431%2C413" "\"01.")
2. Nativity Snow Scene advent calendar, £8.95, Liberty
!["traditional]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/19/2021/11/01.-Liberty-680da71-e1637159932239.jpeg?quality=90&resize=461%2C413" "\"01.")
3. Moonlit Church Square advent calendar, £2.99, Cards For Charity
!["traditional]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/19/2021/11/02.-Cards-for-charity-3675f1c.jpeg?quality=90&resize=413%2C413" "\"02.")
4. Montezuma’s truffle advent calendar, £30, John Lewis
!["traditional]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/19/2021/11/04.-John-Lewis-9236f6a.png?quality=90&resize=323%2C413" "\"04.")
5. Snow Resort Scene advent calendar, £7.99, The Collectors Company
!["The]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/19/2021/11/The-Collectors-Companhy-Traditional-Advent-calendar-2d6e346.png?quality=90&resize=550%2C413" "\"The")
6. Milan Cathedral traditional advent calendar, £9.50, Penny Black
!["traditional]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/19/2021/11/04.-Milan-d3e8652.jpeg?quality=90&resize=413%2C413" "\"04.")
7. London festivities advent calendar, £6.99, Emma Bridgewater
!["traditional]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/19/2021/11/05.-Emma-Bridgewater-1-0b2ad99-e1637160280152.jpg?quality=90&resize=368%2C413" "\"05.")
8. Illustrated National Gallery Advent Calendar, £8.50, The National Gallery
!["traditional]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/19/2021/11/06.-National-Gallery-38be7ba.jpeg?quality=90&resize=413%2C413" "\"06.")
9. Venchi chocolate advent calendar, £13.99, Selfridges
!["traditional]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/19/2021/11/07.-Venchi-24b4032.jpeg?quality=90&resize=317%2C413" "\"07.")
10. Christmas street advent calendar, £16.99, Museum Selection
!["traditional]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/19/2021/11/08.-Museum-Selection-a9ba00a-e1637160479133.jpeg?quality=90&resize=620%2C332" "\"08.")
11. Fortnum’s Filled Wooden House Advent Calendar, £135, Fortnum & Mason
!["traditional]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/19/2021/11/09.-Fortnum-90e9649.jpeg?quality=90&resize=413%2C413" "\"09.")
12. Village on The Hill paper advent calendar, £20, Fortnum & Mason
!["traditional]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/19/2021/11/10.-Village-on-the-hill-9433384.jpeg?quality=90&resize=519%2C413" "\"10.")