Kids get advent calendars full of chocolate and tiny surprises every December, but who decided they get to have all the fun? Advent calendars for adults give grown-ups something exciting to look forward to, too – which sounds pretty good when your December calendar is already overflowing.

Between school concerts, holiday shopping, family gatherings, wrapping presents, and keeping everyone else’s Christmas magic on track, parents can have a hard time finding a moment for each other. The Mentionables 12 Days of Naughty or Nice Advent Calendar gives couples 12 little reasons to pause, reconnect, and have some fun together, with surprises that include lingerie for both him and her, and other intimate extras.

Because while December may belong to the kids, a little holiday spark can belong to you two, too.

Why December Is the Perfect Time for a Couples Advent Calendar

The best part of an advent calendar for adults is that it doesn’t ask much of you – it simply gives you something fun to do together. A couples advent calendar can turn the days leading up to Christmas into small opportunities for connection, whether you have five minutes to spare or the evening happens to open up.

Here’s what makes an advent calendar for adults especially fitting for the holiday season:

• A little anticipation can go a long way: Having a new surprise to discover each day gives you both something fun to look forward to amid the holiday rush.
• It creates an easy reason to reconnect: Opening the day's surprise together gives you a built-in moment to put the to-do list aside and enjoy each other's company.
• It doesn't require a huge time commitment: You don't need an elaborate date night every day. Some days might simply mean opening the surprise together, while others could naturally turn into something a little more romantic.
• It gives you a holiday tradition of your own: December is full of traditions, but having one that's just for the two of you can make the season feel more memorable.

How to Use the Mentionables 12-Day Advent Calendar to Keep the Spark Alive

An advent calendar for adults is meant to be a fun way to stay connected, not another item to add to your December to-do list. The key is to find easy ways to make the surprises part of your time together without adding pressure or expectations.

1. Make Opening the Calendar a Little Ritual

Pick a time when you're most likely to have a few uninterrupted minutes together. Maybe that's after the kids are in bed, during your evening wind-down, or even over breakfast before the day gets busy.

You don't need candles, fancy pajamas, or a perfectly quiet house. Simply making a habit of opening each day's “treat” together can turn a few minutes into something you’ll both look forward to.

2. Take Turns Being the “Opener”

Make opening the advent calendar a shared experience by taking turns discovering what's behind each door. You could alternate days, draw numbers to see who gets to open which one, or let the person who didn't choose the calendar have first dibs.

This gives each partner a turn in the spotlight and means neither person has to feel like they're always watching the other receive all the goodies.

3. Guess What's Behind the Door

Before opening each day's door, give yourselves a chance to guess what's inside. You can each make one guess, give ridiculous clues, or see who can get closest without actually peeking.

It takes almost no extra time but makes opening the calendar more interactive – and when you inevitably guess completely wrong, you’ll both get a good laugh out of it.

4. Give Yourself Permission to Save a Surprise

Not every surprise has to be enjoyed the moment you open it. This is especially true for lingerie. If you open a new piece on a night when you're exhausted, busy, or simply not in the mood for intimacy, there's no reason to force the timing.

Save it for another night when you can actually enjoy it together. Sometimes, just knowing there's something new waiting in the drawer can put a little romance on your mind for later.

5. Turn a Surprise Into a Spontaneous Date

Some surprises may inspire you to spend a little more time together. When they do, let the advent calendar be your excuse to turn an ordinary evening into a mini date night.

Make dessert, order takeout, get dressed up for each other, watch a favorite movie, or put your phones away for the evening. You don't need a complicated itinerary – the surprise simply gives you a reason to make a little more room for each other.

6. Add a Little Competition

If you and your partner are naturally competitive, bring a little game into the countdown. 

Keep score throughout the 12 days with silly categories like:

• Who guessed the surprise correctly?
• Who gets the biggest reaction?
• Who picks the best night to use a surprise?
• Who can make the other laugh first?

You could even let the winner choose the final date-night activity.

7. Make the Busy Days Count, Too

 If you miss a day, pick it up when you can. Some December days will be packed from morning until bedtime with work, kids' activities, holiday events, shopping, and family commitments, and some nights you may barely have enough energy to open your calendar. 

Don't let that turn into guilt, and you don't have to cram multiple surprises into one night just to get back on schedule.

8. Create a “Favorite Moments” Tradition

At the end of the 12 days, talk about your favorite surprise or favorite moment from the advent calendar. Maybe you discovered that putting your phones away makes your evenings better, that you love getting dressed up for each other, or that you simply need more little excuses to spend time together. 

Choose one thing you want to repeat after the holidays are over. Your advent calendar for adults may only last twelve days, but the connection it creates can stick around for much longer. 

Don't Have a Mentionables Advent Calendar? Try These Instead.

Whether the Mentionables advent calendar isn't available or it's simply not in the budget this year, you can still create a little countdown for two. A DIY version of advent calendars for adults can be just as personal, and you can tailor it to your relationship and your December schedule.

Make your homemade advent calendar easily with ideas like these: 

• Fill a 12-day jar with date ideas. Write down everything from a movie night to making dessert together, then draw one each day.
• Write 12 little notes. Leave your partner a compliment, sweet message, favorite memory, or something you love about them.
• Plan 12 small surprises. Bring them their favorite treat, hide a note in their bag, or find another little way to brighten their day.
• Create 12 couple activities. Pick something different for each day, whether it's a walk around the neighborhood, a cozy night in, or getting dressed up for each other.
• Make your own countdown. Fill envelopes, jars, or small boxes with treats, compliments, romantic prompts, or anything else that feels like the two of you.

Of course, if you'd rather have the surprises (and the lingerie) already taken care of, the Mentionables 12 Days of Naughty or Nice Advent Calendar does the work for you – just open a door, discover what's inside, and enjoy a little something together.

FAQ: Couples Advent Calendar

Q: What is a couples advent calendar?

A: A couples advent calendar is a holiday countdown designed for two people, with daily surprises that couples can discover and enjoy together.

Q: How can a couples advent calendar keep the spark alive?

A: A couples advent calendar can keep up the romance between you by creating anticipation and giving couples built-in opportunities to pause, connect, and enjoy each other during the busy holiday season.

Q: What's included in the Mentionables Advent Calendar?

A: The Mentionables Advent Calendar features 12 days of surprises, including lingerie for both him and her, intimate extras, and products to use together, giving couples something new to discover throughout the countdown.

Q: How should couples use the Mentionables Advent Calendar?

A: Couples can use the Mentionables Advent Calendar by opening each surprise together, enjoying the anticipation, and letting the daily “goodies” inspire fun, romantic, or intimate moments throughout the busy holiday season.

Q: Do we have to do something special every day?

A: No, you don't have to plan something elaborate every day. The point of the 12-day couples advent calendar is to create small moments of connection without adding another stressful task to your holiday schedule.

Keep the Holiday Spark on the Calendar

The holidays may be busy, but your love life doesn’t have to hibernate until January. Whether you’re opening a Mentionables goodie together each day or creating your own little countdown, advent calendars for adults can be a fun excuse to slow down, reconnect, and enjoy some “adults-only” gifts all throughout the season.

For an easy option, check out the Mentionables 12-Day Advent Calendar, or head to the Mentionables website to shop lingerie and other supplies for putting together your own couples calendar. 

However you celebrate, advent calendars for adults can make the holiday rush a little more romantic, giving you more chances to reconnect, enjoy each other, and keep things steamy. 

So, if you could put anything behind one advent-calendar door for your partner, what would it be? Share below!