hillfamily Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 DS and DD have a Thorntons one each...it's the best tasting chocolate of them all I forget to get one for Sam the Pup, so will have to look in the pet shop tomorrow The cats will just have to make do with the odd extra pouch of luxury food and chooks can have some grapes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 As a child, I had a lovely one with Bible pictures on, that was reused for several years. I am not sure if chocolate Advent calendars were around then, but if they were I never saw one! My mum would have strongly disapproved. I loved opening the doors on my one every year, even though I knew the pictures already. I didn't have one for years until I discovered recently that ALL my (grown up) friends seem to have one! This year I bought two Divine Fairtrade ones, one dark chocolate which I gave to a friend, and one milk chocolate for me. I still feel slightly naughty as I do know that chocolate and Advent have absolutely no connection, but it's a little treat to have a choc each day, and quite often I forget and then I get to eat two at once! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majorbloodnock Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 I have to admit to being amazed here. I've just read to this point on the thread without encountering mention of an advent calendar depicting the Christmas story. I honestly had no idea the Nativity scene had fallen quite so much in popularity. Please don't think this is criticism at all; just an innocent observation on prevailing attitudes, with no axe to grind. Ho, hum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PurpleTree Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 Mine's the stable scene, once all the pieces are put in, you have Joseph, Mary, Jesus, the 3 Wise Men, the Shepherds, and a whole load of animals and angels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 I admit to buying a chocolate advent calendar every year It is a must have, and I'm not a chocolate fan Mine's a Lidl one, the only ones I can find with anything remotely festive about them and non commercial, oh, and the cheapest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A chickychickychick-ENN!! Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 Having dropped lots of hints about wanting a cool or a girlie one, OH went shopping (when I say 'went', I mean 'got dragged') to get me one, and had a choice of three Clone Wars ones in Asda and two Ben 10 ones in Morrisons. I don't know who the other nine Bens are, let alone Ben 10. So he got me the Clone Wars one. Which is funny because Clone Wars are swearwords to his Star Wars fanatic mind normally... He of course has the terrifying wonder of Jeroma the Gnoma to look forward to next week on his birthday... : viewtopic.php?f=32&t=54005 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitbag Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 I have a Hulk one. It's the only one Tesco had left! not that I mind much- chocolate is chocolate! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickric Posted December 3, 2009 Share Posted December 3, 2009 I have to admit to being amazed here. I've just read to this point on the thread without encountering mention of an advent calendar depicting the Christmas story. I honestly had no idea the Nativity scene had fallen quite so much in popularity. Please don't think this is criticism at all; just an innocent observation on prevailing attitudes, with no axe to grind. Ho, hum Can't remember the last time I even saw a 'proper' advent calender without chocolates in the shops (although I haven't really looked) I remember the first time we had a chocolate one as kids, it was a cadburys one I think, it was given to us by a well to do Aunt and we were amazed, even though we had to share it between the three of us. This was probably mid '70s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poachedegg Posted December 3, 2009 Share Posted December 3, 2009 I have to admit to being amazed here. I've just read to this point on the thread without encountering mention of an advent calendar depicting the Christmas story. I honestly had no idea the Nativity scene had fallen quite so much in popularity. Please don't think this is criticism at all; just an innocent observation on prevailing attitudes, with no axe to grind. Ho, hum I do admit to having fun with our Advent Calendar, however that doesn't mean that the religious side of Christmas isn't celebrated in this house - we have a Navity set, see the Advent candle being lit each Sunday at Mass, attended a service on Tuesday where hampers were presented to a local welfare centre and it was explained there to both children and adults alike that not everybody is fortunate to have a Christmas like we do and that they aren't living that from us either. .....so what I'm trying to say is just because we have chocolate in our Advent Calendar doesn't necessarily mean we are missing the Christmas message......it's a balance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majorbloodnock Posted December 3, 2009 Share Posted December 3, 2009 I have to admit to being amazed here. I've just read to this point on the thread without encountering mention of an advent calendar depicting the Christmas story. I honestly had no idea the Nativity scene had fallen quite so much in popularity. Please don't think this is criticism at all; just an innocent observation on prevailing attitudes, with no axe to grind. Ho, hum I do admit to having fun with our Advent Calendar, however that doesn't mean that the religious side of Christmas isn't celebrated in this house - we have a Navity set, see the Advent candle being lit each Sunday at Mass, attended a service on Tuesday where hampers were presented to a local welfare centre and it was explained there to both children and adults alike that not everybody is fortunate to have a Christmas like we do and that they aren't living that from us either. .....so what I'm trying to say is just because we have chocolate in our Advent Calendar doesn't necessarily mean we are missing the Christmas message......it's a balance. Oh, I quite agree; that's why I was keen to avoid sounding critical. I also believe that observance of the various religious rituals (particularly public observance of them) doesn't make one a good Christian. What matters is one's true beliefs and one's actions, and the same forum that amazed me for its lack of Nativity advent calendars is littered with examples of the very best Christian (, Islamic, Buddhist, Hindu) values in action. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted December 3, 2009 Share Posted December 3, 2009 Back to the trivial side of advent calendars .... I took ours back to Sainsburys and got credit for them. Needless to say though, they didn't have any left . So I bought 3 bags of chocolate coins and am hiding two for the boys to find each morning (I suspect I may be struggling for new places by Christmas Day . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted December 3, 2009 Share Posted December 3, 2009 oooh I love that idea ANH, much more entertaining I want gold coins in my house now... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted December 3, 2009 Share Posted December 3, 2009 Here's mine Filled with thornton's choccies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted December 3, 2009 Share Posted December 3, 2009 I am not a religious person and dont really like all the nativity stuff too much but that's very nice inclucding the choccies.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted December 3, 2009 Share Posted December 3, 2009 In a mad rush on tues morning before work - tescos only had "high school musical" and "Toy story" - chose 2 of latter as the first would not have gone down well with 2 boys!! I mean chocolate is chocolate is chocolate innit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted December 3, 2009 Share Posted December 3, 2009 I am not a religious person and dont really like all the nativity stuff too much but that's very nice inclucding the choccies.. Grandson has a ball rearranging the figures all over the place, making them do stupid stuff tuts I have to tidy them up when he's gone ............... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted December 3, 2009 Share Posted December 3, 2009 :lol: Brilliant Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majorbloodnock Posted December 3, 2009 Share Posted December 3, 2009 And, of course, for the older kids.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted December 3, 2009 Share Posted December 3, 2009 Now, I like that . Remind me of it next year . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paola Posted December 3, 2009 Share Posted December 3, 2009 Fantastic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted December 3, 2009 Share Posted December 3, 2009 It's enough to drive you to drink! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted December 3, 2009 Share Posted December 3, 2009 Love the idea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A chickychickychick-ENN!! Posted December 3, 2009 Share Posted December 3, 2009 Is that yours Bloodnock?! You are such a naughty sausage! I think Christmas is being resurplanted by more Yulish stuff, which is good for all us heathens who love having a cheering midwinter festival (shudders at the pc phrase) but can't quite sit with all the god stuff without feeling hypocritical. I like our modern festive mishmash. It feels more inclusive for people whatever their beliefs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majorbloodnock Posted December 3, 2009 Share Posted December 3, 2009 Is that yours Bloodnock?! You are such a naughty sausage! No, but I've contemplated it for several years. I think Christmas is being resurplanted by more Yulish stuff, which is good for all us heathens who love having a cheering midwinter festival (shudders at the pc phrase) but can't quite sit with all the god stuff without feeling hypocritical. Given the date for Christmas was a hijacking of an earlier heathen festival, the celebration we now have is an amalgam already. I don't see anything hypocritical about non Christians celebrating the event as it currently stands. However, given its religious connections, I also see nothing wrong with people using the event as an opportunity to reflect on the religious message they feel is relevent to them at that time. Hence.... I like our modern festive mishmash. It feels more inclusive for people whatever their beliefs. ....I quite agree. I happen to be Christian, but certainly don't feel more "godly" at Christmas than other times of the year; I'd feel concerned about the sincerity of my faith if I did! In these enlightened and educated times, I personally feel it's more important to find common ground with people than dwell on differences, and an open attitude towards people's beliefs is an important part of that. OK, hobby horse disMOUNT! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted December 3, 2009 Share Posted December 3, 2009 We have used small envelopes with the flap tucked inside which the children then designed the numbers on, some are easy and straight foreward, others you have to think about ie 3 stars with 5 points is for the 15th some get re-made each year, but most are the originals from at least 10 years ago, started when YS was at Playgroup they are then pegged down the stairs on festive ribbon wrapped around the stair spindles. Although now he has seen it ES who will be 18 by next Christmas has dropped hints he hight like the beer one Karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
