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PROGRESSIVE CALENDARS: ADVENT CALENDARS & CARDS
COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS
It’s all about the numbers with advent calendars and advent cards as counting down to the big day is the thing – and it’s not just Christmas these days, or only for humans! Here PG covers some of the latest developments in the genre.
Steaming ahead Already well-known for its large range of calendars and diaries, Museums & Galleries is steaming into a new area for 2025 giving customers the chance to countdown to Christmas with its new fine art advents. Sophie Bylina-Williams, M&G’s administration and relationships manager, said: “M&G’s Christmas offer has long had an astonishingly diverse range of styles and talent, so it seemed a perfect fit to offer retailers advent calendars featuring some of our most popular artists – especially given that we’re frequently asked for them.” The eight-strong range, each with card windows revealing small illustrated details to suit the festive and impactful cover scenes, has four designs from M&G’s Imaginarium artist Emma Frances Grant, and a very festive option from massive fan favourite Brambly Hedge, while bestselling Christmas card designs from Lucy Grossmith and Caroline Bonne Muller have been promoted to Above: Advents are new advents, and Christmas Express will appeal from Museums & Galleries. to vintage steam train aficionados.
Festive fur-baby fun Making sure every member of the family gets a festive treat, Woodmansterne’s Caltime brand offers speciality advent calendars for the furry favourites – and has even picked up an interesting accolade. Hello! magazine named the Dachshund Through The Snow Above: Dachshund Through The Snow made the weird calendars list. Dog Treat version in its top 16 Below: Pet treats for 2025. Weird & Unique Advent Calendars 2024, with senior lifestyle editor Karen Silas confessing: “It's hard not to laugh while discovering some of the weirdest advent calendars out there to put this handy list together. “The weirder the better. As much as I love beauty advent calendars – I buy one for myself every year – the ones that really keep my attention are those that are unusual and unexpected. Advent calendars are all about a surprise treat a day, and weird advent calendar gifts range from the hilarious to the bizarre.” The pup-tastic product had the description: “Dog lovers rejoice! Your favourite pup can also enjoy a weird but wonderful advent calendar. This dog biscuit calendar includes 24 well-deserved treats for your fur baby.” With prices ranging from just £17.49 up to £242, the Woody offering is probably one of the saner ones on the list which includes the Coppenrath Gramophone Musical Advent Calendar, Koka Instant Noodles 12 Days Christmas Countdown, Brewdog Craft Beer Advent Calendar, Newby London 24 Teas Of Christmas Calendar, Happy Socks 24-Pack Advent Calendar Gift Set, The Bearded Man Co 24 Days of Beard Treats Advent Calendar, Ilchester Cheese Advent Calendar, Haynes Retro Radio Advent Calendar, Personalised Spotify Christmas Advent Calendar, Lovehoney Sexual Wellness Advent Calendar, Personalised A Date A Day Advent Calendar, Shocking Science Tricks Advent Calendar, Papier 24 Doors Of Desk Delights, Sewing Advent Calendar, and Seed Advent Calendar For Gardeners. The good news is that people will be able find out for themselves as Woodmansterne has new versions for the 2025 festivities with Watching Santa Paws and Christmas Cats already available to order and a perfect pet treat behind every window.
Spellbinding countdown The point of an advent calendar is counting down to the big event and Something Different has run with the concept to mark the spookiest night of the year. And the quirky 13 Nights Of Halloween Spooky Spells Advent Calendar has caught the industry’s eye to make it through to the 2025 Gift Of The Year shortlist in the Festive & Occasions category. Each door reveals a new magical surprise for repelling unwanted energies and celebrating the season of spirits, aimed at Halloween truly spellbinding. The contents include coffin and crescent moon-shaped obsidian crystals, mini magic broomstick, mystical moon tealight holder, opium-fragranced tealights, star-shaped clear quartz crystal, black star spell candle holder, four coloured spell candles, and a drawstring bag for storage. Right: Something Different’s spooky surprise.
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