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Best Advent calendars of 2023: Bonne Maman, LEGO, Barbie, Lovehoney, and more
Many Advent calendars have sold out already at this point in the season, but if you hurry, you can still order one.
Anyone who grew up in a Christian household knows two truths: One, you can learn a lot about biblical themes from a talking cucumber. And two, no holiday season is complete without an Advent calendar.
A religious custom that stems from 19th-century Lutherans in Germany, Advent calendars traditionally mark each day of (you guessed it) Advent — the hopeful season that spans four Sundays leading up to the birth of Jesus Christ, celebrated on Dec. 25. They typically contain compartments or pockets that can be filled with tiny trinkets for kids, which are designed to be opened one at a time as a fun way of counting down the days until Christmas.
In a moderately blasphemous twist, recent adaptations by big-name brands have given Advent calendars secular appeal as a seasonal holiday indulgence for people (and even pets) of all ages. After hitting a mainstream stride in the mid-2010s, Google search interest for the phrase “advent calendar” reached an all-time high in late 2022. It’s on a similar upward swing as we head into the 2023 holiday season.
Much of Advent calendars’ modern popularity can be credited to TikTok, where they’ve starred in myriad unboxing videos that are suspenseful and addictive to watch (in a similar vein as fashion hauls). But it’s also because they’re easy ways for retailers to tempt cagey, inflation-weary consumers into sampling products they may not have purchased otherwise: everything from fancy French jams to LEGO sets. Advent calendars are a prime example of “needing a little treat” culture (treatcore? being treat-pilled?) at work.
Some Advent calendars have sold out already at this point in the season. (The brand-new Squishmallow calendar appears to be the most popular option so far.) But if you hurry, you can still order one before carolers start lining up on your doorstep. Keep reading for our curated list of the best Advent calendars for 2023.
Wordle today: The answer and hints for November 2
Here’s the answer for “Wordle” #866 on November 2, as well as a few hints, tips, and clues to help you solve it yourself.
You’re nearly there! Just one more sleep and two more Wordles to go until the weekend. As always, we’re serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today’s answer.
If you just want to be told today’s word, you can skip to the end of this article for Nov. 2’s Wordle solution revealed. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
Where did Wordle come from?
Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the Wordle answer for Nov. 1.
What’s the best Wordle starting word?
The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?
The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website’s creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.
Is Wordle getting harder?
It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn’t any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle‘s Hard Mode if you’re after more of a challenge, though.
Why are there two different Wordle answers some days?
Though usually Wordle will only accept one correct solution per day, occasionally it has rebelled against the norm and deem two different answers acceptable. This is due to changes the New York Times made to Wordle after it acquired the puzzle game.
The Times has since added its own updated word list, so this should happen even less frequently than before. To avoid any confusion, it’s a good idea to refresh your browser before getting stuck into a new puzzle.
Here’s a subtle hint for today’s Wordle answer:
We’ve used it early on in this post.
Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?
Not today!
Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…
Today’s Wordle starts with the letter U.
What’s the answer to Wordle today?
Get your last guesses in now, because it’s your final chance to solve today’s Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to Wordle #866 is…
UNTIL.
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Reporting by Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
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How to download TikTok videos
How to download TikTok videos to your phone, so you can watch them anytime you’d like.
Love a TikTok so much that you want to keep it on your phone and treasure it forever? You can do that with the save video function.
“Save video” allows you to save your favorite TikToks to your phone’s photo library. Downloading TikTok videos allows you to have access to a TikTok even if the user deletes it, or if TikTok takes it down or removes the sound. Downloading a TikTok video can also streamline sharing it with your more offline friends who may not have The Clock App.
Unfortunately you can’t save all TikToks — the user who posts a TikTok has to allow downloads for their video. If the “Save video” option doesn’t come up, that means the TikTok user doesn’t have downloads turned on for their account.
In that case, you could always screen record the TikTok instead.
To save a TikTok, follow the steps below.
How to download a TikTok video
Total Time
- 2 min
What You Need
- Smartphone
- TikTok app
Step 1:
Open the TikTok App.
Step 2:
Navigate to the video you want to save.
Step 3:
Tap the white “Share” arrow on the right side of the screen.
Tap the arrow to view sharing options for the TikTok.
Credit: screenshot: tiktok
Credit: screenshot: tiktok
Step 4:
Tap the arrow button above “Save Video.”
Downloads are on, so you can save the video by tapping “Save video.”
Credit: screenshot: TikTok
Credit: screenshot: TikTok
This article was originally published in 2021 and was most recently updated in April 2023.
Mariah Carey announces the official start of the holiday season on TikTok
Mariah Carey posted her annual “All I Want For Christmas Is You” video on TikTok, announcing the official start of the holiday season.
Due to a rapidly heating climate, the weather may not indicate it’s the beginning of November. Instead, we must rely on certain cultural signifiers to mark the transition from spooky season to holiday season. And when the clock struck midnight on Nov. 1, the Queen of Christmas herself, Mariah Carey, posted her first “All I Want For Christmas Is You” TikTok.
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Moments after the last trick-or-treaters fell asleep, the sound of Carey getting her annual hustle back was heard across our FYPs.
The whimsical video shows Carey trapped in an ice cube. An assortment of ghouls and goblins surround her, each wielding a blow dryer to defrost her, but it’s not the heat that releases her from the ice. Rather, it’s her angelic voice. Carey sings, “It’s tiiiiiime,” and the ice shatters. She emerges in a Santa-inspired, spandex jumpsuit. Obviously, “All I Want For Christmas Is You” plays, snow falls, presents appear, and the ghouls and goblins are replaced by joyous children.
The TikTok garnered over 37.9 million views and 8.3 million likes in just over 12 hours. It also sparked jokes and celebrations on X/Twitter. One user wrote, “Mariah Carey on November 1st:” alongside a meme of RuPaul reading, “I don’t want to see any fucking Halloween costumes.” Another captioned an image of a cartoon character with a wad of cash, “Mariah Carey from November 1st to January 1st.”
Happy holidays Mariah Carey season!
Wordle today: The answer and hints for November 1
Here’s the answer for “Wordle” #865 on November 1, as well as a few hints, tips, and clues to help you solve it yourself.
New day, new week, new month, new Wordle! As always, we’re serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out the answer.
If you just want to be told today’s word, you can skip to the end of this article for Nov. 1’s Wordle solution revealed. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
Where did Wordle come from?
Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the Wordle answer for Oct. 31.
What’s the best Wordle starting word?
The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?
The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website’s creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.
Is Wordle getting harder?
It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn’t any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle‘s Hard Mode if you’re after more of a challenge, though.
Why are there two different Wordle answers some days?
Though usually Wordle will only accept one correct solution per day, occasionally it has rebelled against the norm and deem two different answers acceptable. This is due to changes the New York Times made to Wordle after it acquired the puzzle game.
The Times has since added its own updated word list, so this should happen even less frequently than before. To avoid any confusion, it’s a good idea to refresh your browser before getting stuck into a new puzzle.
Here’s a subtle hint for today’s Wordle answer:
What’s that sound?
Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?
Not today!
Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…
Today’s Wordle starts with the letter N.
What’s the answer to Wordle today?
Get your last guesses in now, because it’s your final chance to solve today’s Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to Wordle #865 is…
NOISE.
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Reporting by Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
Is The Cheesecake Factory a bad place to take a first date? The internet is divided.
The online world is ablaze arguing about the places OK for a first date after a woman went viral for refusing to enter a Cheesecake Factory.
Lots of folks have experienced a bad date. But it’s not every day someone exposes the intimate details of their bad date online — down to the choice of restaurant their prospective date chose — garnering an audience of millions. For one woman, that happened when she pulled up to The Cheesecake Factory for a first date.
Yes, the popular chain restaurant famed for its Bible-length menu is going viral for reasons likely making its marketing department lose sleep. A TikTok of a woman refusing to exit a vehicle for a date at The Cheesecake Factory has made the rounds on social media platforms this past week.
The TikTok in question, posted by a woman speaking directly into a camera, went into detail about how this was, apparently, a great offense.
“Who takes someone that looks like this to a chain restaurant?” she said in the video.”Look at me: I cannot go in Cheesecake Factory. I will die.”
The whole thing has since taken on a life of its own. So much so that the original TikTok isn’t even the issue in question anymore. At more than six minutes long, the video features the woman dressing down her would-be suitor outside of The Cheesecake Factory. He also poked back at her for being late and they then went back and forth, arguing in the front seats of a car. And, not for nothing, these sorts of TikToks are often staged and played up for the camera because…well, duh…people want attention.
If it was for attention, it worked. Millions of people have watched the interaction. The response has largely been in defense of the guy and The Cheesecake Factory. Typical comments were: “What’s wrong with the cheesecake factory” to “he seems so nice I would’ve been so hyped for the cheesecake factory,” and “I like the Cheesecake Factory….Girl bye…. He dodged a bullet.. perfectly played.”
Then, of course, the online world began having a Discourse because that’s what people online do. A list of 28 places not to take a date went viral, for instance. Twenty-eight places! (What’s left?) Things only escalated from there.
Popular sports talking head Stephen A. Smith ranted about it. TL;DR: “Ain’t nothing wrong with the Cheesecake Factory.” The freaking View had a segment on it. The brands posted about it, including The Cheesecake Factory itself.
In some ways, you do begin to feel bad for the woman who posted the original TikTok. Was it shady, over-the-top, and slightly unnecessary? Yes, of course. There was no way, however, she could know it would be this big of a deal. But in our culture where everyone needs to post about going to the viral new place, the relatively bland reliability of The Cheesecake Factory might feel like an insult. Never mind the fact that the restaurant itself estimates the average guest spends about $30, which isn’t that cheap. If you’re springing for drinks, dessert, and tipping no less than 20 percent, it seems the bill for a first date is likely to be at least $100.
The jokes about the whole saga will keep on coming for a while.
First dates are tough. Picking a restaurant is difficult even for couples who’ve been together for years, let alone two people just meeting.
It’d be great to support locally owned restaurants, but sometimes people want to play it safe with a place that has hundreds of options. There are worse things. And hey, at least the dessert will be good. That is if you enter the restaurant from the parking lot.
TikTok users put their partners to ‘The Beckham Test’ inspired by David and Victoria
Inspired by David and Victoria in ‘Beckham’ on Netflix, “The Beckham Test” challenges TikTok partners to dance along to “Island in the Streams.”
David Beckham doesn’t just score goals — he and his wife Victoria are relationship goals.
For many viewers of Beckham, Netflix‘s limited documentary series about the footballer, the most memorable scene wasn’t David calling out Victoria for referring to herself as “working class” or David getting a football cleat to the head, but rather the couple casually grooving to “Island in the Streams” by Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers. The married pair share a seemingly spontaneous dance to the tune in the kitchen toward the end of the doc.
Fans circulated the clip of the pair on TikTok with captions like “The Real Power Couple” and “This is my Roman Empire.” Others posted videos dancing to the audio from the scene overlaid with their reactions. TikTok user @caitlinann wrote, “I did not know one of my major life goals was to dance to this song in my countryside home with my future husband, but apparently it is now.” Another TikTokker, @siennakitchener, said, “pov: you just watched the Beckham docuseries & this scene has occupied your brain all day.”
Admiration for the sweet moment quickly morphed into a challenge for people, most of whom are women, to see if their partners measure up to the football star’s fancy footwork. The challenge, aptly called “The Beckham Test,” has TikTokkers dance along to “Island in the Streams” and record their partner’s reaction. To pass the test, the partner must join in on the dancing.
While the trend is light-hearted, it encourages users to compare their relationships to the curated, public image of the Beckhams and requires TikTokkers to surveil their partners in pursuit of internet clout.
In one video that garnered over 5.6 million views, @rebeccavieirax dances in the kitchen before her husband quickly “passes” and copies her dance moves. In another with 3.9 million views, @tess.shananhan puts her husband to the test by dancing alone in the living room, but fear not — he enters the frame and starts dancing alongside her.
Single people may be unable to participate in The Beckham Test, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t posting the audio, too. In one funny take on the trend, TikTokker @user3693184408 dances, adding the caption, “seeing if my bf will do the Beckham dance with me.” Then the camera pans and reveals she is entirely alone. Another video of two friends moving together to the beat reads, “My best friend and I still living with each other 25 years from now.”
Rather than passing a test of rhythm, maybe the next Beckham-inspired trend will involve passing a football.