Creating Special Advent Calendars: A Yearly Tradition of Thoughtful Surprises

One of my favorite holiday traditions is making personalized advent calendars for family and friends. Every year, I like to try something different. This year, I was inspired by the charm and nostalgia of old Christmas papers, which led me to create a vintage-feel advent calendar.

Instead of the usual envelope or bag, I crafted little boxes, each filled with a small, thoughtful treat. The vintage-style numbered tags further enhance the vintage feel, reminding me of Christmases past. I just love the timeless feel of these boxes and tags. Gifting a handcrafted advent calendar adds a personal, heartfelt touch to your holiday celebrations.

And I’m sure the recipients will be delighted by the festive surprises inside!

A Brief History of Advent Calendars

Advent calendars have been a cherished tradition for centuries, with their origins dating back to 19th-century Germany. Initially, they were created to count down the days of Advent—the four-week period leading up to Christmas—helping children prepare spiritually for the holiday. In the early days, families would mark each passing day with chalk lines on doors or walls, while other variations involved hanging a religious image for each day or lighting a candle.

By the early 1900s, publishers and newspapers began producing printed paper calendars. Today, whether religious or secular, Advent calendars continue to ignite excitement and anticipation for the holiday season, offering a daily moment of joy leading up to Christmas.

Create Your Own Vintage Advent Calendar

If you’d like to create your own vintage-inspired advent calendar, I’ve made it easy for you! You can download free templates for the little boxes right here. For a complete, ready-to-use kit—including boxes, tags, and gift envelopes—simply purchase it here.

You can also find instructions for constructing your gift boxes here.

Making advent calendars is a tradition I look forward to each year, and I’m already planning what next year’s might look like—who knows what inspiration I’ll find!

Advent Numbers

If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to number your advent gifts, you can also find Advent Number Tags (1-24) that can be turned into stickers, available for purchase here. They’re a perfect addition for adding a bit of festive organization to your calendar!

More Vintage Christmas Ideas