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Friday, October 30, 2026Oct 30

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The Advent of a modern holiday

Now that it’s December, we can turn our attention to the real reason for the season: Advent calendars, of course.

For the few who don’t know, an Advent calendar is a special calendar, commonly consisting of small numbered flaps, used to count down the days of Advent till Christmas. Each day, one flap is opened, often to reveal a piece of chocolate.

But here is something that many may not know: Today there are dozens of Advent calendars on the market offering much more than candy. Indeed, a quick Google search turns up an impressive list of alternative Advent calendars. From snack foods to booze, here are a few of my favorites — by which I mean the weirdest.

Kellogg’s Advent Calendar

For a bowl-sized serving of a different Kellogg’s breakfast cereal each day