26 weird (but wonderful) advent calendars you'll find on the internet

For a musical treat over the festive season, this unusual Gramophone Musical Advent Calendar contains 24 mini vinyl records, each with a different Christmas song, and a mini-record player. 

Twelve days of noodles? Yes, please! There's nothing like a hot bowl of soup during the winter months, and this instant noodle countdown is bringing all the festive flavours you'll need.

In the UK shop Koka's advent calendar, while in the US you'll find similar at Uncommon Goods.

For fans of STEM projects and toys, this shocking science tricks advent calendar will keep you more than entertained in the run-up to Christmas.

This unusual advent calendar will also be a treasured family heirloom to pass down through the generations. Wedgwood has created this Christmas tree ornament advent calendar filled with 25 beautiful porcelain ornaments in signature Wedgwood blue. Inside you'll find such shapes as angels, presents and of course mini versions of iconic porcelain company's most famous creations, from teapots to vases.

Want to keep things hot this Christmas? Sexual wellness brand Ann Summers are wishing you a steamy festive season with an advent calendar filled with pleasure toys to choose from. The £100 advent calendar is worth £155 and includes 12 days of pleasure...

Count down to Christmas with a beer advent calendar! This 24-day treat includes a mix of "stone cold classics, new brews, collaborations and festive one-offs" plus a glass. Last year BrewDog's calendar sold out - I recommend you order right away so you don't miss out.

This original sewing advent calendar, with 24 sewing treats from thread to 'Handmade' labels to fix to your creations, guarantees a crafty Christmas! Plus there's an eco-friendly bonus: the calendar also comes with flower seeds because the packaging, once emptied, can be filled with potting compost to be transformed into a mini flower bed for the spring.

In the US you can shop a similar sewing advent calendar for $42 on Amazon.

If you'd like to start 2024 in a spirit of growth and renewal a seed advent calendar is for you. There are 24 varieties of vegetables, fruits and herbs inside small paper bags, with natural jute string and 24 wooden clothespins to display the calendar.

Say cheese! This foodie-friendly advent calendar features 24 mini cheeses in flavours including Applewood, Ilchester Wensleydale Cheese with Cranberries, and Ilchester Wensleydale Cheese and Gingerbread. 

Try 12 different luxury Italian hot chocolates in flavours from Orange, Vanilla, and Hazelnut, to Banana and Coffee and Chilli, the perfect unusual advent calendar for chocolate lovers. 

If you're in the US, indulge in the similarly-priced 12 Days of Hot Cocoa Bombs advent calendar ($24.99) from Hickory Farms.

Friends was one of the biggest TV hits in the '90s and its massive popularity continues today, even with the new generation. A true fan of the classic ensemble comedy will love this brand new 25-treat Friends stationery advent calendar.

Smell your way to Christmas with this Yankee Candle advent calendar! The festive box contains 24 holiday scented tealight candles like Tree Farm Festival and Christmas Eve Cocoa – plus glass candle holder. It's an unusual countdown AND the perfect way to add a festive ambiance to your home.

Keep your feet nice and cosy in the run-up to Christmas with a brand new pair of socks every day! The Happy Socks festive-looking advent calendar is filled with 24 just as festive and colourful cotton socks. As a Happy Socks fan I can tell you its socks are some of the softest around.

How about a little Xmas DIY? This advent calendar is the perfect buy for someone who is too tool for school – it's an advent calendar with 24 days of tool surprises (41 items total), including a handy tool bag for storage.

You can shop a similar $79.95 tool advent calendar on Amazon in the US.

Dial up the fun with the Haynes Retro Radio Advent Calendar, which will help you build a working FM radio with throwback vibes. There are 24 parts included in the calendar for you to build the gadget one day at a time, meaning you'll have your radio up and running by Christmas Day.

The most iconic man of the festive season rocks a beard – we're looking at you, Santa Claus! – and there's no doubt every guy, even Father Christmas, would appreciate

Nothing sparks Christmas joy more than music – and this advent calendar lines up the perfect festive soundtrack, a selection based on the most popular Christmas songs ever, for the days running up to 25 December. There's an iconic track behind each door – all you have to do is point your smartphoneat the calendar to hear an Xmas tune to get you in the holiday mood each day.

While this exact Spotify calendar isn't available in the US, I spotted a similar one on sale for just $9.99 at Uncommon Goods.

This unusual advent calendar filled with popular Funko Pocket Pops with a Nightmare Before Christmas theme is a fab choice for fans of film or Tim Burton – or just anyone who loves both Christmas AND anything scary 365 days a year.

This Christmas we could all use a little positivity and hope for all the adventures we'll have together in 2024. This personalisable advent calendar does just that with a set of uplifting symbols and words, such as 'Hope' and 'Dream' engraved on 12 different pewter tokens, plus an additional 12 notes with messages such as: "The world is full of magic and wonder just waiting to be explored." An oak display block with the words 'Adventure Awaits' can be added with an additional cost.

If you or someone on your gift list is a die-hard Doctor Who fan, check out this cool advent calendar! The Doctor Who Tardis Advent calendar, designed in the shape of the Doctor’s iconic time machine, contains 24 Doctor Who-themed collectibles.

Can't get enough of beauty advent calendars? Maybe it's time to go more niche! This 'Christmask' advent calendar, worth £59.40 but priced £39.99, contains 12 nourishing sheet masks for at-home spa treatments for everything from your face to your feet.

Dog lovers rejoice! Your favourite pup can also enjoy a weird but wonderful advent calendar. This Twelve Days Of Woofmas Biscuit Calendar includes 12 oat sprinkled carob biscuits for your fur baby.

For the social media star who’s #readyforxmas, this selfie advent calendar is the ultimate Christmas countdown. There are 24 themed daily prompts to snap a Christmas selfie with the help of the contents of the box: a paddle with numbers for each day to hold up for your snap, and fun props from Santa hats to antlers and tinsel. Share your pics on social media each day to show off your Christmas spirit.

This unique advent calendar for couples features one date suggestion per day, such as ‘Phones off it’s board game time’ or ‘Dance wherever the music takes you’. Even better, you can personalise it with your names *heart emoji*.

Is gin your tipple of choice? This advent calendar includes 12 mini bottles of gin each paired with one of 12 Fever Tree tonics to make December a very merry month indeed.

Once you pop, the fun don't stop as they say – and that’s why it’s a good thing that this Pringles advent calendar has 12 days to enjoy! There's a tub of Pringles crisps behind every door in four top flavours.