Advent Calendars

Delectable sweets to enjoy every day, a promise Patrick Agnellet more than easily keeps with the chocolaty Advent calendar he created.

A fully-immersive gustatory experience filled whose unique flavor brings to life memories of Christmases past all concentrated in a small square of chocolate. And not just any chocolate mind you, one demonstrating the mastery and experience of an internationally-renowned chocolatier with every mouthful. “Ma cabane au Canada” (My Canadian Cabin) is a genuine artistic creation, a world overflowing with sweetness, revealing window after window and world of mouth-watering chocolaty flavors. From the chocolate-covered marshmallow bear cub offering the chance to revisit our favorite tastes and memories from childhood to the bitter deliciousness of dark chocolate, every window opened comforts the heart and soul. Delight in a touch of almond or hazelnut, in the smooth taste of white Dulcey chocolate, as well as in milk chocolate’s warm caress; a friendly reminder to enjoy life’s simple pleasures.

“Embark on a unique journey with this Advent calendar, which takes you to the vast expanses of wilderness in a faraway land, ‘Ma Cabane au Canada’ creates that warm fuzzy feeling by the hearth in a log cabin. Every day, discover a gourmet secret nestled away and savor the delicious creations that will remain forever engraved in your memory,” Patrick Agnellet.

Since love for great food know no bounds, cheese aficionados also have their very own calendar. Locally, the Crèmerie des Marchés boxes only the best refined cheeses for 24 days of pure delight. For the fourth edition of their cheese calendar, they chose a new format: cardboard printed with a special food ink and made to ensure the contents can safely be preserved in your refrigerator.

Every day discover the scrumptious milk and texture of one of twenty different cheeses as well as four other surprises that will tantalize your taste buds. Whether you like cow, goat or sheep’s milk, hard or soft cheeses, natural or washed rinds, “affineurs” (cheese maturers) in the Dubouloz family, who pass their passion for the profession from one generation to the next, use their vast expertise to select the cheeses based on the time needed to mature. This guarantees extremely tasty, high-quality cheeses all the way through Christmas Eve. More than enough to whet your appetite for the holidays!

Twenty-four cubes of cheese wrapped up like real presents and preserved in a beautiful cheese box!

This all-cheese Advent calendar created by Alain Michel offers a unique peek into the cheesemaker-affineur’s personal philosophy: introducing local and faraway cheeses as a way to take people on a culinary voyage. Every carefully selected piece of cheese comes with an information sheet explaining the cheese’s origins, where it comes from, how it is made, the maturing process, as well as other interesting anecdotes about its history.

Following the sequential order to take full advantage of the maturing process for each type of cheese makes this Advent calendar tasting game that much more delicious. Try to guess the type of cheese without looking, listing its gustatory qualities or even imagining the best wine to match with each (remember, alcohol can be hazardous to your health, please drink responsibly) to create your ideal cheese platter for Christmas. There are so many ways to make the Advent calendar a fun gourmet experience.

The winter holidays mean getting all dressed, and putting on glitter and makeup (blush, lipstick….). To ensure that you have the brightest complexion and the softest skin on Christmas Day, there is nothing better than taking great care of yourself in the weeks leading up to the event. The beauty products version of the Advent calendar is now all the rage and the perfect way to prepare for the merriest time of the year.

Clarins put together an Advent calendar that caught our eye: its experimental alpine botanical garden is located just a few short kilometers from Annecy, at 1400 meters elevation along the mountainsides just above the quaint village of Serraval. The organic plants grown there offer an incredibly wide variety of health benefits: lemon balm, gentian flower, and alpenrose (a type of rhododendron) all grow in the fresh alpine air before being added to the iconic products of the world-renowned brand.

This Advent calendar offers a selection of 24 skin care and makeup products for the face and body, a whole host of treasures to add to your routine so that you shine like never before during the holidays (and the others days of the year as well)! In line with the brands commitment to the environment, the eco-designed calendar is plastics free and made with FSC-certified paper, printed with plant-based ink, and fully recyclable.

Amazing ideas come from short stories and tall tales told after nightfall. In this respect, Bonlieu Library has proven more than inventive, taking the concept of an Advent calendar to the next level, organizing storytelling and reading times every evening at 17:00 from the 3rd to the 24th of December (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays).

Enjoy an astonishing story as a family, a moment suspended in time to embark on an imaginary voyage about Christmas. And revel in the enchanting wonder of Christmas stories from home and abroad to capture a tiny morsel of the secret magic surrounding the holiday season.

A great opportunity as well to bring the magic home for those days when the library is closed or when your schedule is full; inspired by fairytales from the world over, breathe a little warmth, beauty, and affection into the moment.

Additional information:

A story-filled Advent calendar

From the 3rd to the 24th of December, every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 17:00 to 17:15. Please note, a special reading will take place on December 24 at 15:00! Free entry, open to everyone.