Unusual Advent Calendars for 2025
- Mike Lamb
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 15 hours ago
TL;DR
Advent calendars have evolved far beyond cardboard and chocolate. From science kits and retro electronics to coding projects, nostalgic movie collectibles and even charitable “reverse” calendars, here are some of the most unusual and brilliant ways to count down to Christmas this year...
You know how it is: one minute you’re bemoaning how early the festive ads appear “these days”; the next you’re sprinting through town on Christmas Eve, battling sub-zero temperatures and praying that must-have-toy-that-you-forgot is still in stock somewhere.
For the traditionalists among us, the season starts in earnest on 1st December, heralded by the opening of the first advent-calendar window.
For older generations, peeling back a simple cardboard flap to reveal a festive illustration was excitement enough. Then came the chocolate era. Although the first chocolate advent calendar appeared in 1958, it wasn’t until the 1990s that cocoa-filled windows became the seasonal standard.
And now? You name it, and there’ll be an advent calendar theme to match. Tea, coffee, socks… beard oil?! As Granny would say, “the world’s gone mad.”
But if chocolate – or male grooming products – aren’t your thing, there’s plenty of fun to be found down the science and technology aisle.
Here are eight unusual advent calendars that caught my eye...
Combine retro-style packaging with build-your-own electronics and you’re on to a winner in my book. Behind each of the 24 doors is a component to assemble a different mini game, including classics like Simon Says, Wire Maze, and Code Breaker.
Eight-year-old me would have been ecstatic. Sadly, my own kids may need to wait a while for the fun; it’s rated 14+. But for any budding engineer or curious tinkerer, it looks like a brilliant gift.
It’s on the pricier side (retailing at £34.99 at the time of writing), but the glowing reviews from parents speak for themselves.
Inside you’ll find gemstones, dinosaur figurines and nine hands-on experiments – from making instant snow or a bouncy ball, to uncovering hidden messages and digging for gold. What’s more, it’s bound to keep little ones entertained for at least a few minutes longer than a Santa-shaped sugar rush.
If your aim is to keep the kids occupied, 24 science experiments should do the trick. The Thames & Kosmos calendars come packed with equipment and materials to dive into chemistry, biology and physics.
One 5-star review raves about “holograms, periscopes and clever things accessed via QR codes.” They’re recommended for ages 8-12, though several commenters mention that some activities are on the simpler side – worth bearing in mind if you’re shopping for a STEM prodigy.
Nerdy Word's Periodic Table Advent Calendar
Want to get your geek on this December? You’ll be in your element with this fill-your-own periodic table box.
Marketing spiel aside, it looks really cool and I’d love it for my home office. Not only is it more eco-friendly – it’s reusable for years to come – but it also puts the onus on your better half, housemates or family to fill it with (hopefully!) fun surprises.
“Codemas”?! I’m sold! Spoiler alert: day one includes a Raspberry Pi Pico H, micro-USB cable and breadboard to get everything set up, along with some introductory MicroPython code examples. Each box after that reveals a new project to build and programme – from sensing things to blinky things and plenty more in between.
It’s recommended for ages 7 and up, making it a brilliant project to tackle with the kids. Or, let’s be honest, a wonderfully nostalgic refresher for those of us who are 20+ years into our coding careers.
Enough options for the little ones, though – us grown-ups deserve a treat too. And if you’re going to count down to Christmas, why not do it with some style? Yep, you’ve guessed it – the obligatory Back to the Future reference.
This officially licensed model kit lets you build your very own time machine piece by piece, with each of the 24 individually sealed foil bags revealing a new component. No glue or tools are required – perfect for novice builders – and, thankfully, absolutely no plutonium involved!
And if, like me, you can’t get enough of Doc Brown and Marty, this Playmobil advent calendar looks the business! Inside you’ll find an electric guitar and amp, skateboard, hazmat suit, and even a lenticular photo ominously hinting at Dave and Linda McFly’s impending erasure from existence. Not to mention multiple Marty, Doc, Jennifer and Biff figurines.
87% of Amazon reviewers gave the kit 5 stars. I wonder what will happen when it reaches 88…
Whether you’re all in on the novelty calendars or skipping the daily countdown altogether, there’s a growing movement worth paying attention to: the reverse advent calendar. Instead of receiving something each day, the idea flips the tradition on its head – you give.
This December, you can join the challenge by setting aside one item a day for your local foodbank or charity collection point. Winter is typically the busiest season for foodbanks; last year alone, the Trussell network distributed 600,000 emergency food parcels, and the need is expected to be just as high again.
So, whether you’re firing up circuits, unboxing tiny time machines or giving the whole tradition an altruistic twist, there’s no shortage of ways to make December a little more exciting. Because before you know it, Christmas Eve will roll back around, the temperature will be Baltic, and you’ll be counting down to 2026 faster than you can say “Great Scott!”
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