Advent starts on Sunday, which means every store in America that has ever sold a candy cane has been fully decked out in holiday merch since Labor Day. I walked into my local Trader Joe’s the other night and saw an Advent calendar printed with little dogs — cute, right? Upon closer examination, it wasn’t just a dog-themed Advent calendar but an actual Advent calendar for dogs, with 25 salmon and sweet potato dog biscuits behind the little paper flaps, yours for $7.49.
For people, the Advent calendar market ranges from little chocolate-filled cardboard receptacles (some of which are cheaper than the dog ones!) to designer calendars that cost hundreds of dollars. Louboutin and Dior offer countdowns for $600 and $750 respectively, filled with baubles like lipsticks and mini perfumes. If you recall, Chanel’s $825 Advent calendar sparked incredulity for its meager offerings two years ago, delivering cheap items like a flip book and temporary tattoos.
Listen, I’m not above indulging in a daily piece of chocolate from a cardstock box with pretty Christmas-themed images on the cover. I’ll be the first to tell you that chocolate, along with every other good food, is created by God for humanity to enjoy, with thankful hearts and acknowledgment of blessing. So is art, and many Advent calendars are adorned with thoughtful art that duly reflects the joyful spirit of Christmastime. Like any other Christmas gift, Advent calendars with goodies inside can be a sweet way to show kindness to a friend (I’ve
