Advent calendars work on a simple premise: every day in December until Christmas eve, build your anticipation for the big day come the 25th. The days are marked by doors or windows, often distributed randomly across a large rectangular card. Behind these doors, you’d traditionally find rewards that are a little more spiritual in nature (think hymns or images of the Nativity), though advent calendars have since been adapted to hiding small, rewarding gifts. 

The great thing about advent calendars – or bad thing, depending on how you’re looking at it – is the need for some good ol’ delayed gratification. Open all the windows, and gorge yourself on the spoils within before December has begun proper – or, exercise a bit of self-restraint. Your waistline will thank you for it.