reverse Advent calendar

English

Noun

reverse Advent calendar (plural reverse Advent calendars)

1. The activity of storing away a non-perishable food item, toiletry, clothing item, or other essential item each day during the Advent period, often starting on December 1, then donating them on Christmas Eve to local food banks, shelters, charities, or other organizations that support individuals and families in need.
   • 2020, Eilidh Gallagher, Green Christmas: Little Changes that Bring Joy and Help the Planet, Bloomsbury Publishing, page 51:

     A reverse Advent calendar consists of collecting long-life food items and toiletries which you then donate at the end of the 24 days. You could add one item per day or donate as many as you like and are able to. You could also create a reverse Advent with a group of friends or family and add one item per person per day.

   • 2021, Cathy Rentzenbrink, Everyone Is Still Alive, Orion Publishing Group, page 76:

     Sarah said that if Helen wanted either Playmobil or Lego she’d have to hurry as they sell out early, and that she would be doing a reverse advent calendar and buying something for the food bank every time she shops in December. That rather shut everyone up and they all agreed they’d do it, too.

   • 2023, Giles Humphries, Myles Hopper, Mindful Chef: Healthy You, Happy Planet, Random House, page 69:

     We also work with food charities closer to home. Every year in the UK we encourage our community to take part in our reverse advent calendar with a twist. Instead of taking food as you would with a traditional advent calendar, customers put food into their box each day of December. We then collect up all of the full boxes of food and deliver them to our food partner. This helps ensure support is given to people in need at this difficult time of year and collectively has a big impact.