With 24 doors waiting, a hidden chocolate just a sliver of silver foil away, the promise of a brand new advent calendar doesn't just mark the start of the festive countdown.

It also means eating chocolate for breakfast is socially acceptable.

Yet in recent years, the humble advent calendar plastered with cartoon characters and stuffed with sweets has taken on an altogether more luxurious approach, with make up, toys and even bottles of gin gracing numbered doors for a hefty price.

Are the two calendars, sat on opposite ends of the monetary spectrum, the only way to countdown to Christmas Eve? And why do we get excited to count day by day to December 25?

What exactly is Advent?

The tradition of advent was long established before cardboard doors were prised open to unveil a festive-themed chocolate, although it isn't known specifically when the tradition began.

Different faiths and denominations have marked the countdown to December 25 in different manners from around 500AD to celebrate the birth of Christ and to tell the story of the Nativity.

Some begin from the fourth Sunday before Christmas and others begin much earlier in November on the sixth Sunday, using candles, song or even fasting to mark the countdown.

Modern calendars we see today, synonymous with sweet treats or small tokens, were first made popular in the 19th and 20th century by German Lutherans and contained Bible verses, a portion of the Nativity story or pictures.

The tradition of counting towards December 25 is still marked in many ways by both religious and non-religious people, with advent candles lit each Sunday before Christmas still popular both in places of worship and in homes.

While children often receive chocolate calendars with numbered doors to count down the days until Father Christmas arrives.

So how can you count down to Christmas differently?

For many people the arrival of December 1 just wouldn't be the same without a colourful cardboard calendar to open each day, but people around the world have become more creative with ways to countdown to Christmas.

Families can choose to do festive activities together each day, while couples can arrange Christmas date nights in lieu of chocolate. There are also reusable calendars you can craft or construct in your own home for that personal touch that can be pulled out of storage each year for a more eco-friendly advent.

So if you fancy trying a different way to countdown to Christmas, here's some ideas to try this December.

Try Origami

These simple little Christmas trees would make a great festive display for a chest of drawers or a windowsill and are so easy to create, children could help with the folding. Wrap sturdy cupcake cases with card and number each one before adding a little treat inside.

Bring back family movie nights

Everyone has a favourite festive film, so to avoid arguments in the run up to the big day, write down classic Christmas movies on pieces of paper and stuff them into numbered envelopes. Stick each one to a large piece of thick card and let a family member open the advent each day. No arguments over what to watch and you can reuse the board next Christmas.

Make bedtime stories more fun

There's no need to buy anything new other than some wrapping paper, but you could always pepper some new festive-themed books into this advent calendar if you like. Simply wrap 24 children's books like presents and let kids open one before bedtime each night. Adding a little Christmas magic to bedtimes, this calendar will ensure you have some quality time together. Just remember to read 'The Night Before Christmas' on December 24.

A gift for family living abroad

If you have parents, uncles and aunts or grandparents who live a little further away than you might like, then a handmade advent photo calendar will be a well received gift to countdown to Christmas. Stick passport-sized photographs of the family, children, pets or even old pictures on a piece of card, then on a separate sheet, create little windows to be opened each day using a craft knife and bright pens. Stick together around the edges and mail to a family member who will look forward each day to a surprising new picture or old memory to recall in the run up to being reunited on Christmas - or that special Skype call after lunch.

Decorate a felt tree each morning

Helping to make your house more festive each day, a simple tree shape cut from felt can be made more festive each day by sticking a pom pom onto each number in the run up to Christmas. Stick it up in a child's room and encourage them to decorate the tree after they've done their teeth or right before you leave the house for school.

Christmas activities for all the family

From writing letters to Santa to making a gingerbread house together, there are plenty of ways to celebrate the run up to Christmas with fun activities the whole family can enjoy. Write different activities from big days out ice skating to smaller ideas like creating Christmas cards on pieces of card. then hang in your home using pegs and string. For more festive activity ideas, have a look here.

Random acts of kindness

Spread festive cheer and help other people by devising a calendar which ensures you can make a stranger or a loved one smile unexpectedly this December. Write a list of ways to help other people, such as offering to babysit for new parents so they can enjoy a Christmas date night, buy a coffee for the person in the queue behind you, bring a takeaway cup of soup to a homeless person or donate blankets and toys to a local animal shelter. Doing some good deeds will help keep that Christmas glow going.

Date night jars

Advent isn't just for children and couples can countdown to Christmas with a series of date nights written on craft sticks or pieces of paper and kept in a jar. Add 12 ideas each to the jar then commits commit time together to get into the Christmas spirit. Whether it's something as simple as making hot toddies to putting up the tree, learning to ice skate or seeing your favourite festive film at the cinema, there's plenty of ways for big kids to countdown to December 25 too.

Reverse advent calendar

Christmas is all about spreading a little festive cheer and thinking of others, so set a box up in your home and each day, add an item of non-perishable food to be donated to a food bank or shelter. A great way to teach children about looking out for others, items like pasta, rice, sauces, cereals, coffee, tea and toiletries will be well received by a local charity. Contact a nearby food bank or shelter beforehand to find out if there is anything they specifically need and when the best date to drop the box would be.