A festive Advent calendar sold by the Target Corporation typically features small, numbered compartments corresponding to the days leading up to Christmas. These compartments often contain treats, small toys, or other holiday-themed items intended to build excitement for the holiday. Variations exist, including beauty advent calendars with cosmetics and other personal care products.
Such calendars serve multiple purposes. They provide a tangible way to mark the passage of time until Christmas Day, creating a sense of anticipation and tradition, particularly for children. They can also be a valuable marketing tool for retailers, driving sales and brand engagement during the peak holiday shopping season. The tradition of Advent calendars itself has roots in 19th-century Germany, evolving from simple practices like marking days on a wall with chalk to the elaborate commercial versions available today.