Thanks to the availability of third party apps, your Windows Phone device can provide a chocolate-free way to count down the days until the 24th December. We've taken a quick look at three of them from developers frazzleddad, ThreeChanges, and triomis GmbH, but if none of these match your style, there are plenty more to try in the Windows Phone Store.

Advent Calendar from frazzledad

This advent calendar implementation from frazzleddad is relatively simple, but charmingly put together. Complete with a falling snow animation, and a festive scene background, each windows hides a Christmas themed image. There's Live Tile support with days to Christmas count down and door reminders features. There's also a special surprise hiding behind door number 24...

Description:

Get into the festive spirit with this seasonal Christmas Advent Calendar!

AdventCalendar

AdventCalendar from ThreeChanges is the closest you'll get to a Microsoft Design Language (Metro) Advent Calendar. Each of the 24 doors (tiles) hides a winter image. The image in this calendar may not have the full-on Christmas feel, but we rather like their understated nature.

Description:

This Advent Calendar is a Christmas count-down and lets the time until Christmas go by quickly. You can see amazing pictures of a Winter-Wonderland each day. Pinned to your Start Page, this App will display the latest images on the screen after some time.

Advent Calendar from triomis GmbH

Advent Calendar from triomis GmbH doesn't quite have the same polish as frazzleddad's version, but it does have some extra content including winter themed wallpapers, Christmas ringtones, Christmas stories, funny video clips, and delicious recipes. The content is unlocked as you open each door of the calendar.

Description:

The triomis team wishes you a nice and not too hectic Christmas season and have fun with the Advent calendar.