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The small print

Content policy

Last updated 3 November 2026

Advent Village is a gift for someone you love, inside a village anyone can visit. This page says what can't go in a house, how to report a problem, and what happens next.

Two kinds of content

House names are public. Anyone visiting the village can read the sign on your house and see its style, country and plot. Keep the name friendly and suitable for all ages. Don't put anyone's full name, address, phone number or other private details on it.

Doors are private. Only people with your house's links can see what's behind the doors. Even so, some things are never allowed.

Not allowed anywhere

  • Anything illegal where you or your recipient live, or in Portugal.
  • Sexual content involving anyone under 18. We report it to the authorities.
  • Sexual or very violent content on a house name.
  • Hate, harassment or threats, including against your recipient.
  • Photos or private details of other people that they wouldn't agree to share.
  • Material you don't have the right to use, such as other people's photos or copyrighted text you're not allowed to copy.
  • Advertising, spam, links to scams or malware, or pretending to be someone else.
  • Using a house to collect money, passwords or personal details from your recipient.

Jokes, family nicknames and terrible puns are very welcome.

Reporting a house

If you see a house name on the map, or something behind a door, that you think breaks the law or this policy, use the "Report this house" link on the house's map card or at the bottom of the recipient's page, or write to hello@theadventvillage.com. Please include:

  • the house name and plot number, or the house link;
  • what the problem is, and why you think it's illegal or against this policy;
  • your email, if you'd like a reply.

You can report anonymously, and we look at every report. If you're reporting illegal content and want your report to count as a formal notice under the EU Digital Services Act, also give your name and email and say that you believe, in good faith, that the report is accurate and complete. Reports about the sexual abuse of children never need your name.

If you gave an email, we'll confirm we received your report and tell you what we decided. We act quickly, and faster in December.

What we do

Depending on how serious it is, we may:

  • replace a house name with a neutral one ("A house");
  • delete a door's text or photo;
  • remove the whole house;
  • report it to the police or the right authority when the law requires, or when someone's life or safety may be at risk.

Every decision is made by a person. We don't use automated filters or automated decisions.

Telling you why, and asking us to look again

When we restrict something in your house, we email the address on the house to tell you:

  • what we did (for example, renamed the sign or deleted a photo) and whether it's permanent;
  • the facts behind it, and whether we acted on a report or found it ourselves;
  • which law or which rule of this policy we relied on;
  • how to ask us to look again, and your other options.

We don't send this if the law stops us, or in an emergency involving someone's safety.

To ask us to look again, reply to that email within six months and tell us why you think we got it wrong. Advent Village is run by one person, so the person who runs it will review the decision again, with fresh eyes and your explanation, and reply to you. If we were wrong, we'll undo what we can (deleted text or photos can't be brought back, so we'll tell you, and you can add them again). You can also go to court, or use the other options in section 13 of our terms.

The terms explain what happens to your payment if a house is removed.

Contact for authorities

Authorities, courts and users can contact us at hello@theadventvillage.com. We answer in English or Portuguese, and do our best in the site's other languages.