Advent calendar themes

Oh yes, my family loves snacks, drinks, & candies from other countries.   We've had family nights with that theme both when my kids were younger and again when they were in their teens.  As wellway said, there are companies that do that sort of thing, and one even has a holiday themed box, I believe.



Other family nights we've had that might possibly translate to some sort of gift are basics like puzzle nights & movie nights. (We've done games, too, but you've already used that one.)

A reading theme if you know if any of them are book fans, perhaps?  

One time we did a create a drink night. Completely non-alcoholic where everyone created a punch type drink for the rest of us to sample. We had some fruits, a few base sodas---a cola & a clear lemon-lime soda, a seltzer water, and some juices. 

Ice cream sundaes?  Chocolate sauce, caramel sauce, sprinkles, jar of cherries, some sundae cups, perhaps?

A gardening theme? Easy to grow seeds such as basil, cherry tomatoes, a leafy green, some gardening gloves, a small spade.

Bird watching? Some inexpensive mini starter binoculars, a bird identification book, and a small journal for tracking what they see around home or on a walk?

Perhaps introduce them to Postcrossing? Some international stamps, interesting postcards, perhaps a few pens, a small self-inking decorative stamp or two, etc.

If they live somewhat local to you, maybe small gift cards to a few different local places--a day trip around their own town type of things. Maybe places like an ice cream shop, bakery, cafe, mom & pop place.

I love the vintage idea. I’ve given my sister decade gift boxes from Old Time Candy in the past (sadly, they recently went out of business but you could probably do something similar with candies from Amazon). They used to do themed boxes of “candy you knew as a kid” that included the most popular candies still available from each decade going back to about 1920-1930. I sent her a 60’s decade box and it was a hit both for her and her DH and also for their kids and grandkids to try some of the candies my sister used to love when she was young.

The world theme would be pretty easy too if you have a World Market type store in your area.

If the families like to cook and are a little adventurous, you could go with a “spice things up” theme with samples of different spices, flavored oils or vinegars or baking flavors paired with recipes to accompany them to try.