Buying guide for best Christmas village sets
If you’ve ever marveled at the intricate details of each figurine and building in a Christmas village set, you know the wonder of these tiny festive towns. While there are many unique displays to choose from, each one has a Christmas theme that sparks fond memories of the holiday season.
The Christmas village has roots in the elaborate holiday decorating traditions of the Moravian church, dating back to the eighteenth century. These beautiful scenes are just as relevant today, and one makes a wonderful addition to any home’s holiday décor.
To set up a miniature Christmas village, you need a variety of pieces to complete the heartwarming scene. A set simplifies this task, because it includes everything you need so you don’t have to buy each one separately. Whether you’ve already started your own tiny village or you’re looking for your first pieces to start a new tradition, a comprehensive shopping guide and product recommendations can help.
How to buy the best Christmas village sets
Before you buy a Christmas village set, consider a few key factors so the one you choose will fit your space and holiday decorating style.
Your holiday décor
One of the main benefits of a Christmas village is that it complements just about any holiday decorations you may have. That’s because these displays capture the essence of the holidays in a scaled-down version of towns that are all decked out for the season. Not only will a set look great surrounded by pine boughs or tinsel, but it will also look perfect under the Christmas tree.
Location
Before you buy one of these sets, it’s a good idea to figure out how much space you have to display one in your home. Do you plan to set it up on a small table or shelf, or do you have a large area under the tree where you can create a sprawling, magical holiday metropolis? Your answer will guide you as you browse the available sets.
Christmas village set vs. nativity scene
Both Christmas villages and nativity scenes are popular holiday decorative items. While the villages depict towns or city scenes bustling with holiday revelers, nativity scenes include figures that represent the birth of Jesus. Many people who celebrate Christmas include both sets in their festive décor: a Christmas village to represent the secular side of Christmas and a nativity scene to express the religious aspects of the holiday.
Theme
Do you love old-fashioned Christmas decorations, or do you prefer to decorate for the holidays with a contemporary theme? Regardless of your preference, chances are you’ll find a Christmas village you’ll love. Colonial or Victorian villages are popular, but city scenes are also available. Some villages are set in the country or on a farm. If you prefer a more whimsical theme, a Christmas village that depicts the North Pole is a good choice. Villages that replicate sets from popular holiday movies or books, such as A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, are also fun options.
Make it a tradition to add a new building, figure, or unique detail to your Christmas village each year. Your miniature town will grow and become even more fascinating as time goes by.
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Features to look for in Christmas village sets
Components
The components vary in these sets, but certain items are essential to creating a holiday town.
Buildings: Most sets include buildings because they’re the foundation for the scene. In addition to houses, other buildings might include schools, churches, stores, stables, and barns.
Some of these sets have buildings that light up. Typically powered by batteries, the illumination creates the appearance of candles or Christmas lights and gives a set a cozy, realistic appearance. What’s more, the lights look great when combined with other holiday lights and décor.
People: Figurines also come in many of these sets. Kids, carolers, shoppers, shopkeepers, and people decorating for the holidays are some commonly found characters.
Other items: These include Christmas trees, streetlamps, wreaths and other holiday decorations, street signs, animals, horses and buggies, cars, trucks, and trains. Whimsical sets might include snowmen, reindeer, elves, Santa, and Mrs. Claus.
Christmas village sets that contain a variety of items make the most comprehensive scenes, but some sets come with specific items, such as a set of just buildings or accessory sets with trees, signs, and people. Keep in mind that you can always add to your village by buying additional sets.
Materials and size
In the past, Christmas village sets made of cardboard were popular. Although they weren’t very durable, many had beautiful details and delightful holiday graphics. You can still buy cardboard Christmas villages today, but sets made of other materials are more durable. Porcelain, ceramic, wood, plastic, and resin are commonly used to make these sets.
The number of items in Christmas village sets varies. Some have just a few items, while larger sets contain 30 or more pieces.
DID YOU KNOW?
The original Christmas village was also referred to as a putz. The word is a shorter version of putzen, a German term for decoration.
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Accessories for Christmas village sets
From houses to people to pine trees, there are different types of components available to help you create your tiny holiday town. But you’ll also need to lay the groundwork before you set up your scenes. Table runners, tree skirts, snow bases, and snow blankets are your best options.
Table runner
A table runner provides a nice foundation for a Christmas village that’s displayed on a dining table or other flat surface. A runner with a holiday theme is a good choice for the season.
Tree skirt
If you like the idea of setting up your holiday village under the tree, placing it on a tree skirt creates a nice look. A skirt that’s white and fluffy will create the appearance of snow-covered ground.
Snow base
Some retailers offer snow bases made specifically for Christmas village scenes. They’re available in different shapes, sizes, and depths to look like different landscapes.
Snow blanket
Snow blankets are soft, white sheets of fabric specifically made for Christmas villages and other holiday decorating purposes. They’re available in different sizes and can be arranged in various ways to create the appearance of snow-covered terrain beneath your village scene.
How much do Christmas village sets cost?
Inexpensive
Sets containing three to seven pieces are the most affordable and range in price from $9 to $14. These are typically made of cardboard or plastic.
Mid-range
The sweet spot price range for these sets is $15 to $25. In this category, you’ll find comprehensive sets with two dozen pieces or more. Resin and wood are the most common materials in this price category.
Expensive
Sets that cost $26 and more can include three dozen pieces or more. Ceramic, porcelain, and large resin sets make up the villages that fall at the higher end of the price spectrum.
If you already have a toy train encircling your Christmas tree each holiday season, add a Christmas village along the tracks.
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Tips
- Buy several sets. When you invest in more than one set, you can create one complex Christmas village or place several small scenes in different areas of your home.
- Don’t overlook the small details. You can buy sets that only contain trees or signs, for example, that are perfect for adding finishing touches to your village scene.
- Consider adding unique pieces. Items such as figurines of movie characters are fun to add to a Christmas village.
- Keep it small. If you have limited space for a Christmas village, opt for a small set that will fit on a shelf or small table.
FAQ
Q. Can I add more pieces to a Christmas village?
A. Yes. It’s best to begin your Christmas village with a multipiece set, but it’s then easy to expand your village by adding more pieces and accessories.
Q. Where should I put my Christmas village?
A. There’s no set rule about where to place it. After determining how much space you need and making sure it won’t be damaged by young kids or animals, it’s really a matter of preference.
Q. Can I mix and match Christmas village pieces?
A. Absolutely! Purchasing a set that’s made by one manufacturer or has a particular theme doesn’t mean you must buy more sets or individual pieces by the same brand or in the same theme when you want to expand your village. In fact, adding sets and pieces by different brands will give your set a beautiful variety.
