Christmas Village Displays

Christmas Villages For Everyone

When you hear the phrase “Christmas village,” you may conjure up the picture of an old English village display covered in dust. But over the years, designers have developed holiday scenes that fit into just about anyone’s interest. From cityscapes to beloved children’s characters, you are sure to find a display that suits into your home and your personality.

Village displays can be purchased from online retailers, collector’s shops, holiday shops, and even department stores, like the Lenox Exclusive Village Treasures Mistletoe Park pieces available at Macy’s. These villages range from rustic to elegant, and come in just about any form you can imagine. Popular Christmas villages for display include:

• Campbell’s Soup Christmas Village Collection
• Coca-Cola 2007 Main Street Collection
• Andy Griffith Show Mayberry Christmas Village Collection
• St. Nicholas Square Village Collection
• Care Bears Care-A-Lot Christmas Village Collection
• The Simpsons Christmas Village
• M.I. Hummel Bavarian Village Collection
• Dillard’s Trimmings “Liberty Falls” 6-Piece Original House Set

You can buy the village display pieces as part of a collection, series, or group. Purchase additional pieces separately, and add to your village throughout the years.

Popular Christmas Display Companies

Villages often develop as a way to increase the line of another brand’s collectibles, like the popular Precious Moments figurines, or as a way to promote a product, like the Pittsburg Steelers. However, some companies produce several lines of Christmas villages, each with individual appeal and a distinct look. Three such companies are Department 56, Lemax, and Thomas Kinkade.

Department 56

Extremely popular over the years, Department 56 has a long history of providing unique Christmas village displays. With eight different villages to choose from, one is sure to pique your interest.

• The Alpine Village Series celebrates the mountains in Europe at Christmas.
• Choose the Christmas in the City Series for a collection of some of the United States’ largest cities highlights brought together for the holidays in one set.
• Pick up a Dickens’ Village Series if you are a fan of Victorian-era Christmas decorations.
• Dickens’ A Christmas Carol novel is represented in this holiday village display.
• Take a trip to another place with the New England Village Series.
• Whimsy rules in the North Pole Series.
• The Original Snow Village celebrates Main Street, U.S.A.
• Elfland is perfect for little ones who wonder about Santa’s helpers.

Lemax Village Collection

Lemax has rolled out an impressive collection of villages since the founding of the company in 1990. The village collections often offer holiday pieces to go with year-round village displays. Santa’s Wonderland is perfect for Christmas, and Vail’s Village offers winter and holiday themed pieces.

The Caddington Village, Harvest Crossing, and Plymouth Corners villages offers enough Christmas and holiday pieces to build small displays on their own.

Thomas Kinkade Christmas Villages

As an inspirational artist, Thomas Kinkade has created several Christmas village collections, from a seaside village to Santa’s workshop. His village displays include:

• Thomas Kinkade's Collectible Village Christmas Collection: Christmas Home Decorations
• Thomas Kinkade & John Deere Creek Collectible Village Collection: Christmas Home Décor

• Victorian Christmas Home Village

• Mistletoe Mountain Collectible Christmas Village

• Santa’s North Pole Christmas Village

• Seaside Winter Village

Creating Christmas Village Displays

Once you have collected several pieces of the village of your choice, it is time to put them out for display. Place it on a mantel, end table, coffee table, or on a special table you place in your room of choice. Built-in shelving wall shelving units are perfect display areas, as are china hutches. Show off your bvillage to the neighborhood and create one in your bay window facing the street.

Smaller displays, such as one large building and a few Christmas village accessories, can be placed on end tables or in the center of a bigger holiday exhibit with little fuss. Simply arrange the pieces how they look the best. Place a doily or small scrap of dark green or white fabric below to separate the pieces from the rest of the décor.

Larger displays may require more extensive planning. You may need to create depth by adding some various sized books or pieces of wood, covering them with a white or forest green cloth. Add faux snow and small mirrors to create miniature lakes.

Get more tips, hints, and ideas for your Christmas village displays from the following websites:

• Department 56’s Display Ideas
• Décor with Lemax
• The Village Display Guide

Village displays are a warm addition to any home’s Christmas décor. Whether you choose an elegant Lenox display or a fun loving Simpsons display, you and your family will enjoy putting it together and collecting pieces for years to come.