Advent Calendar Fillers: 24 Ideas Without Sweets

By 2 December, the chocolate is usually forgotten. If you want to fill an advent calendar for adults, you need small things that bring joy for longer: something to build, to puzzle over, to enjoy or to share. Here are 24 ideas, one for every door. A few come from our workshop in Erfurt, most you can put together without us.

What makes a good filler

• Keep it small. Anything that doesn't fit into a little bag or box becomes a problem. A matchbox is a good measure.
• Mix it up. A calendar with 24 identical things gets predictable by week two. Alternate between things to do, things to enjoy and small vouchers.
• Plan highlights. The Advent Sundays, St Nicholas Day on the 6th and 24 December deserve something special.
• Think beyond Christmas. The best fillers don't end up in the bin after the holidays.

To build: a Christmas scene that grows

Each of our miniature wooden kits comes in its own matchbox. They are put together in a few minutes and then stay on the windowsill as a little decoration. Over Advent, a Christmas scene grows piece by piece.

1. Advent wreath – the perfect first door. The candles can be turned over so that only as many glow as are lit on that Sunday. 13 pieces.
2. Christmas stars – two stars in red and yellow, mixed or in one colour.
3. Christmas tree – our classic with a star on top, 8 pieces.
4. Christmas pyramid – folk art from the Ore Mountains in miniature, the frame comes pre-glued.
5. Candle arch – the traditional Schwibbogen, flat enough for any windowsill.
6. A landmark from a favourite city – such as the Merchants' Bridge in Erfurt or the Brandenburg Gate. A lovely surprise for anyone living far from home. See all designs under Landmarks as wooden kits.
7. Nativity scene – the door for 24 December. Some parts are pre-glued, so it's easy to build even on a busy Christmas Eve.

The six Christmas designs also come together as a Christmas set. It makes a good base: put the boxes behind the Sundays, St Nicholas Day and the 24th, and fill the days in between with the ideas below.

To puzzle over

8. Tangram – seven pieces, countless shapes. Perfect for a coffee break.
9. OOPSi or another wooden game in a matchbox – each with instructions, small enough for a jacket pocket.
10. A riddle you wrote yourself, whose answer leads to the next door or a hiding place at home.
11. A mini card game for two to play together on Advent evenings.

To enjoy, without sugar

12. A special tea in a small bag, a new one each week.
13. Mulled wine spices, mixed yourself from cinnamon, cloves and star anise.
14. Good coffee beans from a small roastery, enough for two cups.
15. A scented tea light for the long evenings.
16. Roasted nuts or seeds in a paper bag, seasoned savoury instead of sweet.

Experiences and vouchers

17. A voucher for breakfast together at the weekend, prepared by you.
18. An evening at the Christmas market – the mulled wine is on you.
19. "Today I'll take care of …" – the dishes, the shopping or wrapping presents.
20. A cinema or concert night in January, so the anticipation lasts beyond Christmas.

Personal touches

21. A printed photo of a shared moment from the year.
22. A short letter – for the door on the greyest day.
23. A playlist as a QR code on a small note.
24. Seed packets for spring, such as herbs or wildflowers, as a promise of next summer.

Wrapping and numbering

Matchboxes are easy to work with: they fit into calendar bags, paper bags and most fill-it-yourself calendars. Put loose items such as tea, spices or nuts into small paper bags, and roll up vouchers and letters and tie them with string. Add the numbers with a stamp, washi tape or chalk pen, and all 24 doors look like they belong together.

Plan ahead

To have the calendar ready on 1 December, it's worth starting in November. Order kits and wooden games by mid-November to leave time for wrapping. You'll find all suitable designs on our page Advent calendar fillers.

Frequently asked questions

What can you put in an advent calendar for adults?

Small things that don't look like a children's calendar: miniature kits, puzzle games, tea, spices, vouchers for time together and personal touches such as photos or letters. A mix works best.

What fits in an advent calendar for men?

Anything to try out or use: a wooden kit of a favourite landmark, a puzzle game for a break, good coffee beans, mulled wine spices or a voucher for an evening together.

How do I fill an advent calendar sustainably?

With things that last or get used up without leaving waste: wood instead of plastic, paper bags instead of foil, experiences instead of clutter. Our kits are made from local wood in Germany and stay on as decoration after Advent.

Can I order the kits in larger quantities, for example for colleagues or a club?

Yes. Use our contact form to tell us which designs and how many you need.