How to Choose a Personalized Advent Calendar: Six Compared

Choose a personalized Advent calendar by three things: how many days it counts, where the name sits, and which theme suits the child or family. All six of ours are personalized wall hangings, made after you order through our Etsy shop. For the three tree calendars with printed names, the listings also give fabric, hanging and care details, compared below.

The six side by side

Calendar	Pockets	Name	Themes	Fabric, hanging and care
Woodland or gingerbread tree	24, in a tree shape	Printed at the bottom; up to 15 characters recommended	Forest woodland (green) or sweet gingerbread (brown and cream)	Canvas/linen blend, wooden dowel and rope, spot clean
Toy Shop or Ballerina tree	24, in a tree shape	Printed at the bottom; up to 15 characters recommended	Vintage Toy Shop or pastel pink Nutcracker Ballerina	Canvas/linen blend, wooden dowel and rope, spot clean
Gingerbread house tree	24, in a tree shape	Printed at the bottom; up to 15 characters recommended	One design: gingham, peppermint stripes, gingerbread	Canvas/linen blend, wooden dowel and twine rope, spot clean
Winter woodland	25, in rows	Add a name; across the top in the catalog photos	Snowy forest scene	Not stated; ask in our Etsy shop
Reindeer	25, in rows	Add a name; beside the reindeer at the top in the catalog photos	Reindeer with woodland animals	Not stated; ask in our Etsy shop
Nutcracker tree	24, red and green	Add a name; at the bottom in the catalog photos	Nutcracker figures	Not stated; ask in our Etsy shop

For the winter woodland, reindeer and Nutcracker calendars, the listings do not say how the name is applied or give fabric, hanging and care details. Ask through our Etsy shop before ordering if one of those matters to you.

24 or 25 pockets

Four calendars have 24 numbered pockets, one for each day up to Christmas Eve. The winter woodland and reindeer calendars have 25, numbered 1 through 25, so the last pocket can hold something for Christmas Day itself.

Catalog photo of a winter woodland Advent calendar with the name Theo across the top, a snowy forest scene and 25 numbered pockets in five rows — Catalog photo: the winter woodland calendar, with the name at the top and 25 pockets.

Which one for whom

Catalog photo of two Christmas tree Advent calendars side by side: a green woodland design named Harper and a brown and cream gingerbread design named Olivia, each with 24 numbered pockets — Catalog photo: the woodland and gingerbread themes, name at the bottom.

A child who loves woodland animals: the green forest theme of the woodland or gingerbread calendar, or the reindeer calendar if you want a 25th pocket.
A gingerbread fan: the gingerbread theme of the same calendar, or the gingerbread house calendar, whose tree is topped with a gingerbread house.
Toys, trains or ballet: the Toy Shop or Ballerina calendar: a train and rocking horse, or a ballerina and pink bows.
Classic red and green: the Nutcracker calendar.
The name as the headline: the winter woodland calendar or the reindeer calendar, which show the name at the top.
A whole family: the three tree calendars with printed names give family names as examples, such as “The Andersons” and “The Millers”.

Catalog photo of two Advent calendars labeled OPT 1 and OPT 2: a Toy Shop design named Lucas and a pink Nutcracker Ballerina design named Amelia — Catalog photo: the Toy Shop and Ballerina themes.

Getting the name right

For the three tree calendars with printed names, the listings ask for the name exactly as you want it printed, recommend up to 15 characters, and suggest Title Case, for example “Olivia” rather than “OLIVIA”. Enter “NO NAME” if you would rather have the calendar plain. For the woodland/gingerbread and Toy Shop/Ballerina calendars, also say which theme you chose. All six listings offer a bow choice (no bow, red, pink or dark teal) and list a thank-you card as a separate option.

Wall space, hanging and storage

Each listing’s photos include the same size and accessories chart, which shows a 24-pocket calendar at 85 × 55 cm (about 33.5 × 21.7 in) with 9 cm pockets. The chart does not show the 25-pocket designs, so ask through our Etsy shop to confirm the size of the design you choose. The three tree calendars with printed names hang from a wooden dowel with rope or cord, are spot cleaned with a damp cloth, can be ironed on low heat on the reverse side (never directly on the printed name), and roll or fold up for storage. Candies, toys and fillers in their photos are not included.

Catalog photo of a Christmas tree Advent calendar with 24 red and green numbered pockets, two nutcracker figures and the name Lucas at the bottom — Catalog photo: the Nutcracker calendar, 24 red and green pockets.

Ordering in time for December 1

Every calendar is made after you order. Etsy shows the estimated delivery date for your address before you pay, so check that date against December 1 before you check out. The three tree calendars with printed names also ask you to review the estimated delivery dates at checkout and to order early.

Once you have chosen, fill the pockets with 24 Advent calendar filler ideas for small pockets, or browse all six personalized Advent calendars by pocket count.