It’s October so why not start talking about the new batch of Lego Advent Calendars! If you’re not familiar with advent calendars, they are decorative calendars set out on Dec 1st that have 24 small boxes containing treats of various sorts. Most contain candy or chocolate but it could be anything. I’ve seen some mom and dad friendly versions with wine or whiskey. Open one box a day and have a little bit of fun. It really adds to the holiday spirit!
Having daily reminders of Christmas helps to add to the fun and reinforce the importance of the season. Each day is an opportunity to remind your children of the importance of giving and receiving.
Lego has participated in this fun holiday tradition since 1998, my favorite year. The sets have transformed from basic holiday builds to multiple sets with different themes. The 2023 series features sets based on the City, Friends, Harry Potter, Marvel, and Star Wars themes. We’re breaking them down here.
City
The City theme features elements common to everyday life. In this theme you’ll find cars, homes, and stores as well as police and fire departments. Minifigs, or lego people, are a highlight of any advent calendar and this one has Santa, a snowboarding Mrs. Claus, an ice sculptor, a nicely appointed hockey player, a little girl with, of course, a cell phone, and a Christmas caroler.
Advent calendars are known for mini-builds and this one doesn’t disappoint. Included are a fireplace, a reindeer and sleigh, and a decorated tree. My favorite in this one is a small but detailed grandfather clock. Fixing clocks is an old hobby and I’ve tried to include timepieces in many of my builds.
Friends
This is Lego’s series that is marketed to girls. Sets typically have wonderful little pieces to play with. Instead of the typical minifig, Friends uses mini-doll figures which are sleeker but not manipulated as easily. Each figure has a name and their own story. This year’s calendar has a girl and boy, Autumn and Leo, with intricately decorated clothing. Although low on figures, this set has a number of the cutest little animals including 3 dogs, 3 cats, a bunny, and a chameleon/gecko/lizard type animal (don’t hold me to that).
The builds create a perfect pet playground. There’s a seesaw, hoops, and a train to give your fur-babies rides. Also included are a few Christmas items like a tree, fireplace, and a snowman.
Harry Potter
A thrill for any Potterhead, this calendar has so many reminders of all the special characters and places associated with Hogsmeade. There are 6 recognizable figures; Madam Rosmerta, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Draco, and the first ever Aberforth Dumbledore minfigure. Each one has elaborate details that make it easy to immerse yourself in a world of Christmas and magic.
The town of Hogsmeade is brought to life on a micro scale. There are 18 builds that conjure images of The Three Broomsticks, The Hog’s Head Inn, Madam Puddifoot’s, and Zonko’s Joke Shop. Fun for any fan of this classic tale.
Marvel
Ready to Assemble? Young superheroes everywhere will come to life with their favorite Marvel characters like Captain America, Iron Man, Dr. Strange, Black Widow, Okoye, and Spider-Man. I love that Spidey is wearing an ugly Christmas sweater with his mask on the front.
Each day’s build gives these beloved characters activities to enjoy for the holidays. There’s a tree adorned with the tesseract on top, fireplace, and Hydra train. My favorite detail is the bunny alluding to the awkwardly gigantic stuffed rabbit that Tony gives to Pepper in Iron Man 3.
Star Wars
May the yuletide be with you. Star Wars fans of any age will appreciate the fun and details in this calendar. There are micro versions of memorable moments from Return of the Jedi, particularly Endor and the Ewoks. You’ll find several minifigs including an Ewok, a clone trooper, Omega (from The Bad Batch), Princess Leia, and Emperor Palpatine donning an ugly Christmas sweater with the Death Star on the front.
Multiple fun builds are included but two stand out. One is a pit droid dressed up as an elf, very cute. My favorite by far is the gonk droid dressed up as a reindeer. I’m hoping that the build isn’t too difficult to recreate because I want a full team of them to pull Yoda around in a sleigh!