Preparing your advent calendar
December is coming and the shops are already full of beautiful advent calendars for young and old. This charming-turned-commercial tradition has become yet another pretext for even more consumption.
Fortunately there are some responsible advent calendars out there, but most contain useless trinkets, mediocre sweets or treats, and cosmetics samples, usually wrapped in a plastic shell surrounded by cardboard.
For a more eco-friendly Advent calendar, making your own is a good option, and also traditional in Switzerland.
As a first step, choose reusable containers such as:
As a first step, choose reusable containers such as:
- fabric bags,
- small containers that you have saved up throughout the year (jam jars, match boxes,…),
- toilet paper rolls – of course! - which allow you to create tiny boxes,
- boxes fashioned out of scrap paper,
- or pre-made wooden or cardboard calendars that can be reused every year.
Once you have found suitable receptacles, here are some ideas for filling them:
- pictures
- printed-out photos of good memories
- home-made coupons for a day out, a creative activity, a family evening : putting up the Christmas tree, doing window decorations, having a sleepover or family film night, getting to choose the dinner menu, …
And some ideas for adults : a trip to the restaurant, watching a film together, date night, eating chocolate when the kids are in bed, going out for a coffee, having a bath while I keep the kids out of your way , …
- healthy and/or home-made treats. Fairtrade or locally-made chocolate, biscuits with no palm oil, …
- some pieces of a puzzle, with a few more to come every day until Christmas
- a joke or riddle
- a (second-hand) book
- some seeds (great for those who love gardening; cress seeds are a hit with children!)
- coffee, tea, spices, flavoured sugar or salts, jam, regional specialities,…
- something to think about (inspiring or motivational quote, …)
- a compliment : something you particularly like about the person the calendar is for.
- Craft materials, especially second-hand (offcuts of fabric, paper, ribbons, threads, stickers, …)
- if tiny toys or figurines are essential, try to get good quality ones, and if possible second-hand.
Alternatively, you could simply light a candle every day in December.
To take it further, why not try a reverse Advent calendar:
- Take a strong, empty box.
- Every day, add a useful non-perishable item such as : hygiene products, tinned food, socks, books, gloves, hats, drinks, biscuits, ...
- Give the box to someone who needs it. (Homeless shelters or churches may be able to help you here.)