Reverend Dr Ian Paul, of the Church of England’s Archbishop’s Council, slated the “greedy” calendars, many of which are aimed at adults.

Despite calendars traditionally having Christmas images behind each door rather than a gift, department stores are selling versions containing perfume, whisky and make-up.

Last month, hundreds flocked to upmarket Liberty in London’s West End to grab a £175 beauty calendar, the contents of which are worth £500.

Perfumer Jo Malone is offering its take for £300, with an “old and rare” whisky calendar on sale at £999.95.

The Rev Paul called the new calendars “deeply ironic” and “selfish”.

He said: “Christians use Advent as a time to remember two things.

“The first is Jesus’s coming to us in poverty from the riches of his glory at the Father’s right hand.

“The second is God’s promised future coming in judgment, when he will hold all people to account for their greed and selfishness. So it is doubly ironic that people are using Advent to celebrate greed and wealth.

“The adoption of religious symbols for such secular ends appears to demonstrate the absolute power of consumerism. It appears that there is no limit to the ideas that can be trampled on and colonised.”

John Lewis is selling 48 per cent more calendars than at this time last year, the most popular being a £19.50 Lego calendar.

For adults, it has a £100 Edinburgh gin calendar, a £63 OPI nail varnish version – and one containing pork scratchings for £18.

Stephen Green, of Christian Voice, said: “Advent is not a time for feasting, it’s a time for reflection and waiting.

“People need to think, is Christmas really all about drinking and living it up, or is it about reflecting on the fact that God became man in Jesus Christ, who was born as a baby in a manger? “That’s really what it is, that God became one of us. We can do without the silliness of alcohol in calendars.”