Christmas villages

[GeekyWombat]

Up until about two years ago I had never seen a Christmas village and had no idea what they were. But I married into a family where MIL and GMIL both do them to epic degrees and now I'm a bit obsessed, although I don't have the budget they do - or indeed the space... I have a two year old so the only place I can set it up is around my fireplace inside the fireguard where she can't get at it.

The first year I bought a starter set thing with three houses, a pond and some gubbins. The deal was that every year after that I'd add a piece. Last year I bought a pancake house (I do love a pancake!).

This year I'm already looking at either a fried chicken shop (don't judge me!), a pale blue cottage that looks like my dream home, or a tea shop.

Does anyone else have a family tradition of setting up a little village on a window ledge or some such? Do you have any photos / tips / just generally want to squee about it?

[FireflyGirl]

I like to look at them on Pinterest, but don't really have anywhere to put one

One day...

[TheHobbitMum]

I have a little lemax village and I love it! I have about 10 houses now and some fairground rides (ferris wheel, tea cups etc). I'll see if I can find photos although I change it around each year lol Kids set up the characters etc I usually buy a couple of houses in the sales after Christmas as it can get expensive for full price Lemax

[RaspberryIce]

This sort of thing? www.google.co.uk/search?q=christmas+village+ornaments&client=ms-android-samsung&prmd=sivn&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi8xZe7mL3PAhWLJcAKHWeKCQkQ_AUICCgC&biw=360&bih=559#imgrc=9SUHHkXPsqQEUM%3A

They sell them at our local garden centre before Christmas. Can you get little working train sets that go with them?

[CandyMcJingles]

Ah. Why did I click on this? Now I need a Christmas village.
There are model websites that do film scenes - u remember last year looking at National Lsmpoon stuff. Very expensive but so cool.

[CandyMcJingles]

And now I think about it, my grandma used to cover her sideboard in a huge sheet of cotton wool for snow and make a scene using little plastic cake decorations, which I now own. Cottages and a sleigh and trees. It was magical.

[SpringerS]

I love Christmas villages so much but unfortunately so does my 3yo so I'd fear for the survival of it if I ever started a collection. So I decided to compromise with a Little People Christmas Village and I may actually love that even more than the proper kind. It looks a bit like this.

[CandyMcJingles]

We've bought DD the Playmobil Father Chrustmas House which we will set up after she goes to bed on Chrustmas eve. I'm way too excited about it.

[Leeds2]

My friends have one with a little airplane that flies round and round a high tower. It is fascinating!

[TheKitchenWitch]

I love them! Which ones do you have? I always used to have just one with a teelight, and then my MIL passed on her entire collection to me. It's a mix of styles, but they're all ceramic and for use with teelights. I set them up on the sideboard, with a few wooden trees etc to set the scene.
Last year ds1 and I made a few peg people which we added to the village and it looked brilliant!
Sadly over the years a few of the houses have got badly chopped or bruised ken so I'm now considering starting a new collection.

[WiltingTulip]

I was planning on starting one this year. I have no idea which direction to go in (fun/handmade/Lego/?) none have really stood out as being good enough quality to be a collectors/investment so far so I'm keen to see/hear about other people's

[Guitargirl]

Oooo, Christmas villages! I started a small collection a few years ago but haven't got very far with it. See this thread.

One of my guilty pleasures is watching films of them on YouTube .

[Humidseptember]

I have one, its very small maybe 6 houses and shops? Lots of figures picked up ultra cheap in after xmas sales, in garden centers and homebase. I have a pond, bridge , lots of trees - LOTS of trees, really makes it look real, some lamps...and a carousel, some other xmas fair bits and a FC with sleigh in the back ground....I love it.

I used to have mine on a side board but now its spread over our mantel and our pretend log burner. I quite like having it on different levels and all blended in with other decs. My two dc do move things around occasoinally and knocked into it once playing but other wise they have been fine with it ( toddler)

[GeekyWombat]

A teacup ride?! I've just googled that now and need to win the lottery to buy some bits I think! I also need a train, and I may, erm, now have a Pinterest board. I blame you all ;)

[SitsOnFence]

I love these, but DH would spontaneously combust if I started one. It's hard enough convincing him that we need a tree.

Luckily a cafe very near to us has a gorgeous, MASSIVE Lemax display from November every year, so we content ourself with admiring it over a slice of cake once a week after school.

I have started to slowly amass Playmobil Christmas sets though, which seem to slip under DH's radar

[elQuintoConyo]

My DSil has one it is AMAZING! Some of it is posh (don't know the make), some of it is Lidl , all of it looks wonderful together on a white fluffy blanket-thing (maybe felt... I'll have to take closer attention this year!).

Some bits plug in, some have tealights. She has carol singers and lots of trees. And a carousel it takes up a heck of a lot of space, but they have it in spades so that's ok. No dc but cats- cats haven't seemed to have given it much notice over the years, so it is still in really good condition.

Sorry I don't have any photos. And damn you pp for telling me there are youtube videos of these villages! There goes my evening!

[Awoof]

I'm so jealous all those who have one - have suddenly acquired aaaalot of lemax in my amazon basket!

[SpringerS]

There is a bakery near my that every year has the most beautiful Christmas Village window display. Made of bread!!!!

[ellaballoo]

I knew nothing about them until this thread,but am proud to announce I bought my first Lemax shop today . Will keep me busy for the next 40 years , always said I was going to collect Sylvanian families as a batty old woman but Christmas village has replaced that plan!

[GeekyWombat]

Ooooh which Lemax did you get? I'm planning on getting the Pearson Cottage if I can find it.

[ellaballoo]

I got Christmas Lane , have my eye on Taste of Italy to keep it company .

[ellaballoo]

That cottage is very cute ... this could get expensive !

[ridingsixwhitehorses]

Where did you buy the starter set? I love the idea.

[GeekyWombat]

I got this one in the Tesco sale www.tesco.com/direct/tesco-24-piece-christmas-village-starter-kit/334-9849.prd

They don't seem to have it in stock at the mo online but you might be able to find something similar elsewhere.

[popmimiboo]

I've been collecting mine since my 10 year old was 2. Some of the pieces have had a few mishaps (-hosting a 3rd birthday party during the festive period wasn't the greatest plan) but it's all memories!
I have a carousel, train, church, a few houses and an ice rink which fit on a ledge next to my fireplace on a "snow" cloth.
This year I'm coveting a "flying" santa sleigh one