I’ve always loved anything in miniature, and a Christmas village is no exception.
There’s something a little magical about these mini holiday communities. It’s fun to create your own stories with various displays and wonder what life would be like in such a charming little town.
The most popular and collectible mini villages are Department 56 Christmas houses. Whether they’re tucked under the tree, spread across a mantel, or filling a hutch with twinkling light, these little buildings have been part of holiday traditions for decades.
If you’ve ever spotted a Department 56 house at a flea market or pulled one from a box of handed-down decorations, you know the excitement of finding a treasure! They are a fun collection to start and build over the years.
Let’s dive in a bit more to their history and explore how you can start or grow your own collection.
A Little History of Department 56
Department 56 began in Minnesota in 1976 with the release of the “Original Snow Village.” It was simple line at first, just six basic ceramic houses with lighted windows.
By 1979, the collection had grown to include twelve new houses and figurines, with the original six houses being retired.
Over the years, new themed collections followed: Dickens’ Village, Christmas in the City, North Pole Series, and the Alpine Village.
Each collection has its own mood and charm, and as new houses are introduced, older ones are retired.
The artistry has always been in the details, like wreaths on doors, icicles on rooftops, and detailed lampposts. New releases also collaborate with licensed designs, like Disney, Harry Potter, and Peanuts.
Why We Love Collecting Department 56 Christmas Houses
There are a hundred reasons people fall in love with a Christmas village, but a few stand out:.
- Tradition: They’re something you unpack year after year, a ritual that feels like the official start of the season.
- Charm: The craftsmanship is stunning, and the level of detail tells a holiday story.
- Nostalgia: Create a scene from favorite book or movie in your own home.
- The Hunt: Part of the fun is spotting them in antique malls, flea markets, or thrift shops. Sometimes you stumble on a gem for a fraction of its value.
- Collectibility: While most of us collect them for the joy, some rare or retired pieces can hold serious value.
This blog generates revenue via ads · This blog may contain affiliate links
The Iconic Collections
If you’re new to Department 56, here are a few collections worth knowing:
Snow Village – Quaint Americana scenes, like hometown diners and cozy cottages.
Dickens’ Village – Old-world charm, straight from the pages of Charles Dickens.
Christmas in the City – Elegant brownstones, shops, and city life in miniature
North Pole Series – Whimsical, playful buildings that feel straight out of Santa’s workshop.
Alpine Village– Charming European-style cottages nestled in snowy peaks.
Tips for Starting Your Collection
It’s easy to get overwhelmed, so my best advice is to start small.
I recommend choosing 2–3 houses that fit your style and build from there. Maybe you love the quaint Americana look of the Snow Village, or you have little kids and they really love the whimsical North Pole series.
Either way, pick just a few anchor pieces that appeal to you as a foundation.
As you build from there, don’t stress about having a complete set. Mixing and matching gives your display personality!
And don’t forget about adding on the smaller accessory pieces, like figurines, vehicles, and other scenery. They can help fill out a display and tend to cost less than larger, lighted houses.
If you’re shopping secondhand, be sure to check that the lights work and look over the piece for chips or cracks.
It’s also a good idea to ask for the original storage box, if that’s still available. Being able to store the piece in its original box will help protect it from being damaged and also makes it a more valuable collectible.
Ideas for Displaying Your Christmas Village
The real fun comes when you start styling your houses!
Larger collections will obviously require more staging area. I think it’s best to keep all the houses together for the best display effect, so choose your location based on the size of your collection.
On a Mantle. Layer snow batting, twinkle lights, and some greenery to cover cords
Under the tree. Build a village nestled next to or under your tree, and take advantage of existing plugs for tree lights.
On a hutch or sideboard. Use a styrofoam base to mimic snow-covered ground.
Add levels. Use books or risers to give your village depth, like hills and valleys. Cover them with white fabric to hide.
Get Creative with Vertical Display. I absolutely love this creative chest of drawers repurpose!
Caring for & Storing Your Pieces in Between Seasons
To keep your houses looking good for decades, I can’t emphasize enough storing them in their original boxes if you have them! While this may make your storage a bit more bulky, this is by far the best way to keep all the intricate details from getting broken, as well as any removable pieces with their proper sets.
If you don’t have the original boxes, then be sure to take off any removable pieces and place them in a ziploc bag. Then wrap up the bag, house, and cord all together in bubble wrap. Once wrapped up, pieces can be stored in a tote or stacked on shelving in a cool, dry place.
To help preserve the lighting, you could remove all the bulbs before storing each year and keep them in their own padded baggie.
Once you get them unpacked, give them a gentl dusting with a soft brush before setting them out each year. It’s a good idea to also dust them off again before packing away for storage.
Hunting for Deptartment 56 Houses
For treasure hunters, Department 56 is a dream! You’ll find them everywhere from estate sales to thrift shops. Recently, I’ve had luck finding them on local online auction sites.
Around the holidays, you can find them quite often at antique malls as well. Sometimes dealers have them priced to match their collectible status, but you can also sometimes find a real steal!
If you’re looking for a specific house to complete a collection and you’re willing to pay top dollar, my best suggestion is checking Ebay or Etsy. There you can search for the specific design you want easily.
A Tradition That Lasts
At the end of the day, a Department 56 village isn’t about how many houses you own or how much they’re worth. It’s about the fun of setting up the scene and the magic it creates.
It’s about gathering your family around the mantel, plugging in the lights, and watching your home glow a little brighter.
So whether you’re just starting your first collection or unpacking a box of well-loved houses passed down through generations, know this: you’re carrying on a tradition that has been making Christmas feel magical for nearly 50 years.
Do you collect Department 56 houses? I’d love to hear about your favorite piece or the unicorn design you’ve been hunting for!