As a kid, did you have an Advent calendar each year leading up to Christmas Day? Did you have enough willpower to only open one flap per day? I remember getting a paper Advent calendar from my church that wasn’t too fancy, but these days, there’s no shortage when it comes to Christmas Advent calendar ideas, from simple to luxe. Forget the cheap cardboard calendars with dinky little flaps. These days, French Christmas Advent calendars have become super fancy and make great gifts. From Advent calendars with chocolate, food, candles, and more, my French advent calendar ideas for 2023 will help make your holidays all the more merry.
French Advent calendars 2023
Different families and cultures celebrate Christmas different ways, but one thing I’ve noticed on both sides of the Atlantic is the tradition of Advent calendars… and some stores in France start early! In early October, Monoprix was already putting out Kinder Advent calendars to entice holiday-loving shoppers.
Remember that Thanksgiving isn’t celebrated in France, so Christmas decor and candy often comes early. But even for me, the beginning of October is a bit early! I’m a holiday lover, though, so I can’t complain.
Many of the major supermarket chocolate brands put out France Advent calendars that run around 10 euros, but it gets wayyy fancier than that if you’re looking for more than regular old chocolate. In French, an Advent calendar is called un calendrier de l’Avent.
French Christmas ornaments and decor I love >>
What is Advent?
In case you’re not familiar with it, “Advent is a season observed in many Christian churches as a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas as well as the return of Jesus at the second coming. The term is a version of the Latin word meaning ‘coming.'” (Wiki)
What is an Advent calendar?
Advent calendars are often made of paper of cardboard and have 24 consecutive windows or doors, each with a little prize. This is the same for French Advent calendars. It’s a way to mark the 24 days leading up to Christmas, one day at a time. “The tradition dates to the mid-19th century, when German Protestants made chalk marks on doors or lit candles to count the days leading up to Christmas,” explains Mentalfloss.
I love the feeling of anticipation and a French Advent calendar is the perfect way to count down the days until Christmas.
It’s a time of hope and Christmas cheer. Children especially love Advent calendars and I feel like they’re even more popular in France than they are in the USA. In addition to all the toy Advent calendars, France has no shortage of options for adults. And why shouldn’t they? Gift giving and holiday cheer isn’t just for kids, and I’m all for celebrations!
The fun lasts for 24 days. You’ll start your Advent calendar on December 1 and open one slot/window per day through Christmas Eve.
Traditionally, Advent calendars featured the manger scene or Saint Nicholas. They were often reusable and simple. You don’t have to be religious to get in on the Advent calendar fun.
These days, the concept has shifted to be more commercial — yes, even French Advent calendars — and the prizes for each day have gotten fancier. Keep in mind they make fantastic pre-Christmas gifts or hostess gifts if you’re a guest somewhere this year at Thanksgiving.
Best French Advent calendars available online
Here are some of my favorite French advent calendars 2023 and Christmas advent calendar ideas in general that I’ve seen out in stores and online:
Bonne Maman Advent 2023 calendar
If chocolate isn’t your thing, maybe jam is? The French brand Bonne Maman, famous for its jams and marmalades, has a lovely limited edition Advent calendar for 2023. It has 24 mini jars including holiday editions of 23 jams and one honey. You’ll find Raspberry Chocolate, Pineapple Ginger, Quince, and Strawberry Guava, which you won’t be able to find anywhere else… just to name a few. Foodies, you’ll want to take note and stock up before it sells out!
COUPle DE CŒUR
This Advent calendar for couples is written in French and is the perfect way to infuse some romance into the holiday season. It’s called the COUPle DE CŒUR, a play on words (coup de cœur is a favorite/love at first sight), and contains 24 colorful cards — along with clips and twine — full of ideas and activities that you can explore as a couple in the lead-up to Christmas.
One thing I love is that the calendar is printed on eco-friendly paper and the company plants one tree for each calendar purchased. Put the focus on your relationship this holiday season en français and have fun while doing it with this unique French Advent calendar for couples.
Diptyque Advent calendar 2023
This tops the list as my luxury advent calendar pick. Diptyque is a Paris-based company that makes high-end candles, perfume, and other body care products that are worth the high price tag. The 2023 Advent calendar contains emblematic products from the brand’s collection along with exclusive items. The exterior, decorated with flame-shaped calligrams, contains an assortment of 25 small Diptyque treasures for you to discover every day in December.
If you want to go the more affordable route, ditch the Advent calendar and treat someone special to these 5 mini Diptique holiday candles instead.
Williams Sonoma Holiday Advent Calendar: 24 Days of Baking Cookies
Salut, cookie fans! This Williams Sonoma 24 Days of Baking Cookies Advent calendar features a festive patisserie illustration and inside you’ll find all the tools you need to make your holiday cookies a hit. From cookie cutters to spatulas, piping bags, gift bags, decorating tips and more, the goodies are guaranteed to inspire creative baking.
Nuxe beauty Advent calendar 2023
If you’re a fan of the cult beauty brand Nuxe, you’ll want to take note of what’s sure to be your favorite 2023 advent calendar. The brightly colored calendar has 24 deluxe sizes of their bestselling products, including several from the Rêve de Miel and Huile Prodigieuse product lines. This is a must for the person on your list who loves to be pampered!
Exclusive Sisley-Paris Advent Calendar
Want to go big? This Sisley Advent calendar is what you’ve been waiting for. As you open a new drawer each day, you’ll enter a whimsical world where collages and embroidery mix and mingle. This spectacular Advent calendar was designed by Sisley’s founder Isabelle d’Ornano, and is adorned with a gorgeous patchwork of inspirational words and colorful images that capture what Sisley is all about. Each day you’ll treat yourself to a carefully selected gift from Sisley’s skincare, makeup, haircare, and fragrance collections.
Palais des Thés 24 Days of Tea Holiday Advent Calendar
Tea lovers, this one is for you! The Palais des Thés 24 Days of Tea Holiday Advent Calendar will delight you with 24 days of tea. It includes this year’s limited edition holiday tea, le thé magnifique, and a variety of Palais des Thés’ best-selling teas.
L’Occitane Advent calendar
Another French beauty brand with a fun 2023 French advent calendar is L’Occitane. Founded in 1976 and based in Manosque, France, L’Occitane’s holiday offering will make any beauty lover’s holiday dreams come true. For 2023, L’Occitane has a 24-piece collection for you featuring top skincare, body care, shower favorites, and special editions. You’ll get to try all the bestsellers like Immortelle Divine Cream, Shea Butter Hand Cream and Almond Milk Concentrate, hair care, surprise limited editions and much more!
Kinder Advent Calendar
Any chocolate lovers in the house? Kinder Advent calendars like the one above are quite popular in French supermarkets. The brand was developed in Germany for the German market but is popular in a bunch of European countries including France. And it’s affordably tasty!
Here are a few more 2023 Advent calendars I love:
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What are your favorite Christmas Advent calendar ideas? Are you interested in French Advent calendars this year? Do you take part in the tradition where you live?
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I was gifted a sample of the COUPle DE COEUR calendar for review purposes.
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I absolutely love this post! Advent calendars are so much fun, and I have so many loved ones who would especially appreciate the beauty product ones! Thanks Diane!
I love Advent Calendars and they’re so much fun for teachers, too (as long as you’re allowed to show them in class). The children love pulling the flaps and seeing what’s behind them. It makes the holidays a little more special for them. Thanks for the ideas, Diane!
I have never given advent calendars much thought
Love this!
One for the French.
Spotted in Costco UK today – 24 half bottles of wine from around the world
But at £96 (£4 per day) then a bit expensive