Santa’s saucisson: French advent calendars become tasty

Readers of a certain vintage will recall with fondness the excitement of December 1 each year, when you were allowed to open the first window of your advent calendar (calendrier de l’Avent). Back then – the 1960s to the 1980s – the treat was purely visual. Unless memory fails me, no chocolates or other sweet goodies were lurking behind the festive fenêtre, just a simple image of a snowman or tree.

Furiously looking for the number 1 jumbled up among the other 23 running until December 24 was all part of the fun.

How times have changed. These days, browse épiceries and online speciality food sellers from about October onwards and the range of product-led advents for sale – with each window concealing a small gourmet treat – has exploded.

Of course, harking back to more innocent, less commercialised or gluttonous times is all well and good, but who can argue with a 2026 advent calendar featuring a little saucisson for every day in the run-up to Christmas? It’s a bite-sized reminder that these days, for many consumers (whether you like it or not), Christmas is more about consumption than religion, even if chomping on a meaty morceau before breakfast is a little de trop.

A German pastor’s son named Gerhard Lang is said to have created the first printed advent calendar in 1908 (they were hitherto wooden) and a chocolate-filled version followed in 1926.

He would be astonished at the array of delectable daily goodies hidden in calendars these days. Among the French ones on sale this year are Bonne Maman’s selection of miniature jam jars and retailers like Bien Manger offering a wide range of food-themed ones, including saucisson, honeys, mustards from Maison Fallot, small aperitif and spirits bottles, and spice sachets. There are regional picks too, from Alsace to Provence to Brittany – each featuring local specialities.

Parisian tea purveyor Mariage Frères sells a tisane and festive black tea calendar, while high-end chocolate makers like Valrhona and Aix-en-Provence’s calisson experts Le Roy René offer sweet treats.

Not to be outdone, beauty companies including L’Occitane sell ones featuring small samples of hair, face and body treatments, while gardeners can even find calendars containing 24 seed sachets – so you can celebrate Christmas next June!

Gadget inspector

Slice a festive cake in style with a stiletto server 

With the festive season just around the corner, get prepared to serve up Christmas and New Year desserts with a unique flourish – this stiletto-shaped pelle à tarte (cake slice) perfectly blends design and functionality. Made of brushed stainless steel, it even has a magnetic heel to keep it in place when not in use.
€34.90 from Pro idée.

Now available

Panettone: an Italian Xmas classic... from Haute-Savoie

Italian panettone are sold everywhere in France in the run-up to Christmas. Beat the rush and pre-order a Made in France version from Les Mômes based in Haute-Savoie. Their festive line-up features six flavours including Pear Gianduja, 3 Chocolates, Traditional Candied Fruit, Intense Lemon and Pistachio.
1kg, €35.