In the Philippines' famously extended Christmas tradition, Advent calendars offer a perfect way to count down to December. From coffee to chocolate and skincare, they are filled with small surprises that align with the local tingi culture and love for prolonged celebrations. Here are some recommendations for a merrier holiday season.
Christmas in the Philippines is renowned for its length and festivity, with parols lighting up streets, carols echoing in malls, and countdowns starting months before December. The Advent calendar tradition, first emerging in 19th-century Germany, originally marked each Advent day with chalk lines or devotional images. In 1908, Gerhard Lang produced the first printed version with 24 windows to open before Christmas.
Today, Advent calendars have become a powerful marketing tool, filled with daily surprises from global brands. In the Philippines, they fit perfectly with the tingi culture and fondness for blind boxes and small trinkets, extending joy throughout the season.
One option is the Nespresso Advent Calendar, containing 23 coffee pods and a festive cup, available at boutiques, pop-ups, and the official online store and app. For skincare enthusiasts, The Body Shop Advent Calendar offers 24 different products for pampering. The Delimondo Advent Calendar provides curated ulam favorites and samplers of new meals.
For makeup, the Ryx Advent Calendar is affordable, featuring sets from bestsellers to new launches for a holiday look. The Auro Chocolate Advent Calendar includes 24 premium treats, such as single-origin cacao and Filipino-inspired flavors like Ube Coco and Calamansi. For creative kids or those young at heart, the Play-Doh set delivers a mini can and accessory each day for screen-free fun.
In a country that celebrates the season longer than anywhere else, the Advent calendar transforms the wait into a month-long ritual of joy tailored for Filipinos.