Mine don't have "dates" they have numbers 1-24. Christmas eve would be the last day of advent.

Mine also just has numbers. Behind every door is a miniature ornament that I put on a small tree on my kitchen counter. BTW, Trader Joe’s has great chocolate advent calendars.

My brother in law sends me a Jacquie Lawson online advent calendar every year. It’s so cute. There is a different activity for each day. Usually you build a scene, like a village. Here’s the description: Enjoy 25 days of seasonal fun in a pretty village in the Cotswold Hills in southern England. Every day there's a new game or puzzle, or one of our trademark animated stories of people and pets – and much more besides.

Ooh, I think I need to do that! Sounds right up my alley!

Depending on the year Advent starts before Dec 1st. Perhaps you could just start in Nov if the 25th day is a bother.

The First Sunday in Advent this year happens to be December 1. Our church has an Advent Event on the first Sunday, to make our own Advent wreaths to light each Sunday. But traditionally, the Advent calendars have 24 “days”. I just don’t know why I’m now seeing 25 “days” on the calendars this year. It’s not a bother (heck, if it means an extra chocolate sign me up! But, OTOH, 24 is evenly divisible by 2, 3, and 4, to accommodate however our family is assembled in any given year.)

dedtired -- thank you so much for the Jacquie Lawson Advent calendar idea. I just checked it out and got one for myself! Love her cards.

On the topic of different Advent calendars...I saw that Sephora has one with little skin care/ makeup items.

Well, I solved my issue of my own creation. Stopped by my local indie bookstore and bought a 24-door calendar today. I‘ll save the other one for a year when the first Sunday in Advent is before December 1, and I can liturgically justify opening a door on November 30. Unless it’s chocolate. In that case, let’s add more doors!