The Many Seasons of Department 56

By Michele Blandino

For those of us growing up in the 1960's and 1970's, Christmas memories may include a miniature village under the tree. Consisting largely of plastic houses that snapped together, these villages were tiny replicas of the many housing developments that were beginning to pop up all over the country. Little plastic people, cars, park benches and trees accessorized the village and in some cases, an electric train chugged around its perimeter.

The New Generation

Thanks to the proliferation of dozens of manufacturers specializing in collectibles, today's Christmas villages have taken on a whole new look. There are themed villages, villages with motorized ice skaters, houses that light up and scores of other accessories that make this newest generation of Christmas villages both breathtaking and addictive.

One of the most well known names in Christmas village circles is Department 56. Headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, this company actually began as the wholesale gift importing department of a local floral company.

A Short History Lesson

In 1977, the company introduced its "Snow Village" series of collectibles. You may be surprised to earn that this original village consisted of 6 ceramic houses, and was originally conceptualized as a decorative item. Before long, however, people began fashioning miniature villages with these houses, opening the floodgates for an entire line of collectibles.

Even so, it took until 1984 for the next village - the Dickens Village - to be introduced. This was followed by the New England Village, The Alpine Village, Christmas in the City, and the North Pole Village. Meanwhile, the original Snow Village continues to grow as new pieces are added every year.

Similar to other parts of the collectibles industry, new pieces are introduced every year while others are retired. As would be expected, there is a fairly active secondary market for many of the retired items with some commanding thousands of dollars more than their original retail price.

A Village for Every Season

While most people associate Dept. 56 with their Christmas villages, there are many pieces in the original Snow Village that can be used during any season; the company also has extensive Halloween and Easter villages available, enabling collectors to maintain year-round displays. 

Keeping Track

While there are a number of sources available on the Internet that list the various collections, including which pieces have been retired, the best source is the company's website. You can also find information regarding new product introductions at this site.

Of the unofficial sites, one of the best is Matt's Dept. 56 Extravaganza. Filled with lists of product introductions and retirements dating back to 1997, this site also boasts scores of photos depicting actual displays.





Where to Buy

There are a number of places you can purchase Dept. 56 villages and accessories. Here are a few: