How We Created Our Own Advent Calendar Tradition (With 24 Fun Christmas Activities for Kids)
I first discovered the Advent calendar tradition 12 years ago when I moved to Luxembourg. My absolute favourite was (and still is) the Neuhaus one — delicious, beautifully designed, and something I bought every single year. Here is the link with the one they created for this year - Neuhaus Advent Calendar.
When we moved to Barcelona, we tried to keep the tradition alive for the girls, but three years ago it wasn’t easy to find a good option for them. This year, though, Advent calendars seem to have exploded — I see them everywhere, from supermarkets to little boutiques.
We also picked up a chocolate one from Milka. It’s not as high-end as Neuhaus, but it does the job, and you can imagine how excited the girls are waiting for December 1st to finally open it. It’s become a favourite topic during our school walks, when they tell me all about what their friends are getting as Advent calendars.
But one conversation sparked an idea that got them even more excited than chocolate. They were telling me about the Legami Advent calendar — the one that, despite its €45 price tag, sold out immediately. And I’m thinking… how many more Legami items does one child need? If you’re familiar with the brand, you know every girl and boy already has countless Legami pens, pencil cases, erasers, and whatever new products they launch. They’re cute, I can’t deny it, but paying €45 for another 24 tiny items in one month? No, thank you.
That’s when I suggested we create our own Advent calendar filled with small Christmas-themed activities to do each day. It was so lovely to see how excited they became. Needless to say, we went immediately to buy small envelopes, and that same evening I had to come up with all the ideas.
So here is the list I created — in case you need inspiration for your own DIY Advent calendar this year. I’ll report back to share how it went!
Our 24 Christmas Activity Ideas
Write a letter to Santa
Find toys you love but no longer play with and donate them
Make hot chocolate with marshmallows
Make a list of your favourite things (toy, book, food, film/cartoon)
Have a movie night with popcorn
Bake a Christmas cookie
Prepare cards for teachers, friends, and family
Go see the Christmas lights
Build a gingerbread house
Learn a Christmas song
Learn a Christmas dance
Create a Christmas decoration
Write a second letter to Santa (for fun or updates!)
Cook something yummy together
Read a Christmas story
Choose a country and learn about its Christmas traditions
Eat something red and green
Enjoy a family game night
Make a playlist for Christmas Day
Decorate the Christmas tree
Make welcome cards for the grandparents visiting for Christmas
Make a time capsule to open next year
Visit the Christmas market
Wear Christmas jumpers and accessories and take a fun family photo
Have you ever made your own activity-based Advent calendar? I’d love to hear if you’ve tried something similar, what you included, or if you’re planning to create your own this year. Share your ideas or traditions in the comments — let’s inspire each other!