The History of Christmas Villages

Let me start off by saying, I’m brand new to Christmas villages. I’ve always wanted one, but it wasn’t a tradition my family had (all the more reason I wanted to start one!). This year, I found the one and you guys, I’ve finally started my very first Christmas village!

My village is a beautiful vintage Department 56 set that was being sold by a very kind man who lost his mother. He told me she absolutely loved Christmas villages. And even though I never met her, I felt like I could see her in those little houses—all 12 of them in pristine condition and meticulously cared for. It’s the Christmas village you dream about (and I did dream about it, all night long in fact, haha).

Today, that same village sits in my home, ready to start a new traditions here with us. It’s funny how something that once meant so much to someone else can suddenly become part of your story too. I didn’t know her, but her village feels so special to me.

How The Tiny Tradition Began

There’s something so mesmerizing about a Christmas village—the tiny glowing windows, the snow-dusted rooftops, the way time seems to stop for just a moment when you plug in the lights. Every little house feels like a story waiting to be told. But have you ever wondered where this magical little tradition even came from?

Turns out, the story of Christmas villages stretches back much farther than the glittering ceramic houses we unpack every December. Like most good traditions, it started small—humble, handmade, and full of heart (just my style, 😉).

The Earliest Villages

The roots of Christmas villages trace all the way back to 18th-century Germany, where families created elaborate nativity scenes called putz (from the German word “putzen,” meaning to decorate or adorn). These early displays weren’t just about the manger though; they often included tiny handmade houses, animals, and townsfolk made from paper, wood, or clay.

Over time, the nativity scenes grew into entire little worlds, spilling out beyond the stable into full villages. People would add ponds made from mirrors, sprinkle sawdust for roads, and craft miniature trees from twigs. Setting up the putz became a cherished family ritual…something that marked the true beginning of the Christmas season. I mean, how amazing is that?

The Move to America

When German immigrants brought the putz tradition to America in the 19th century, it quickly evolved. Early American versions sometimes wrapped around the base of the Christmas tree—tiny cardboard houses nestled in cotton “snow,” trains running circles through the middle.

In the 1920s and 30s, a company called Putz Houses began producing mass-made cardboard houses for dime stores. They were bright, sparkly, and charmingly imperfect—often lit from behind by the colored glow of a string of Christmas lights. These little paper homes became a holiday staple, lining mantels and window sills across the country.

The Rise of the Ceramic Village

By the 1970s and 80s, nostalgia and craftsmanship met in a big way. Department 56 released its first ceramic lighted houses—the “Original Snow Village”—and a whole new generation fell in love with the idea of building tiny towns again.

Collectors began adding a new piece each year, often to mark milestones or memories, the bakery that reminded them of Grandma, the little church that looked just like the one they were married in. Before long, these glowing villages became not just decorations, but family heirlooms—passed down, piece by piece. Be still my heart!

Why We Still Love Them

There’s something timeless about a Christmas village. Maybe it’s the peacefulness of that snowy miniature world, or maybe it’s what it represents—simplicity, community, light in the dark. In a season that often feels rushed and loud, a little village quietly reminds us to slow down and savor it all.

Every year, when we unpack the tiny houses and line them up again, we’re rebuilding more than just a display. We’re rebuilding memories—of childhood Christmases, of family traditions, of home.