For as long as I can remember, every December my brother and I got a chocolate advent calendar from our mom. Truth be told, it was the creamiest, most delicious chocolate ever?or maybe it was the fact that we could only have one morsel a day. Each time I opened one of those cardboard doors, I loved seeing what Christmas-themed shape I?d get.

While I was a trustworthy advent calendar participant, my younger brother was not?one year he opened every door, ate every chocolate and promptly closed the doors back up?he got caught, don't worry. The holiday tradition has become a mainstay in our family, but we're not the only ones.

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They have been around for centuries
Advent calendars have been around for a long time?they originated in Germany in the early nineteenth century when Protestants started to mark the days of Advent either by burning a candle or marking walls or doors with a line of chalk every day.
Starting in the 1950s, chocolate advent calendars were released?today, the concept has evolved into an endless supply of options. There are foodie ones (tea, coffee, wine, beer), beauty-related ones, Legos, puzzles, socks, fishing accessories, brain teasers, and even a few spicy ones for couples.
They can be easily personalized
My mom has carried on our family tradition with my 10-year-old son. He?s had toy-related ones every year?this year she got him a calendar with 24 little fidget toys behind each door. Like always, I get a chocolate one, while my brother and husba...