Chocolate Christmas Countdown Advent Calendar

This is one of my favorite holiday traditions. Every year when I was growing up, my parents got me a chocolate Christmas calendar similar to this one. When I had kids of my own, this was one of those holiday traditions I knew I wanted to share with them as well and I have been lucky enough to still find them every year.

The calendar is a thin cardboard boxthat usually has a Christmas themed picture on the front. On it are 24 numbered little doors but the doors do not go in number order so part of the fun is looking for the next number. Each day beginning on December 1 up until Christmas Eve, you open one of the little doors to get a piece of chocolate that is inside. The pieces of chocolate come is different shapes like bells, Christmas trees, trains or other holiday shapes.. When the child gets through all 24 numbers and the calendar is done, Christmas is here. They are a great way to have a little Christmas each day throughout December.

I love these calendars they are a great way to count down the days until Christmas and a nice little chocolate treat too.

Update On Dec 01, 2009: We picked up new ones again this year also from Rite Aid but the current price is $1.99. My kids opened the first doors tonight.

Update On Nov 21, 2010: Just picked up my calendars for this year. I got them at Walgreens and they are on sale Nov. 21-27 for only $1.50.