I have a vintage, circa 1950-60's cardboard Christmas village that I have had for about 20 something or more years. I was late getting it out this year, I usually have it set up on a glass table with a fluffy fake snow blanket, but I have no idea where that is ( the snow blanket ), or if I even have it still. My brain is on fluff-mode itself too.
I instead just used a trunk that I have in here, put a velvet runner across and started placing them on top .I really like these little cardboard houses and churches , glued together and then sprinkled with glitter and then they have a fake snow roof on top. Or glitter over the paint for a roof. Most are made in Japan, usually stamped on the bottom. You can buy these on eBay or in antique shops. The older ones have deeper colors, and look old. The new ones the make have more garish bright colors, and of course look new.
You can always arrange them however you like , and they usually will not stay like that as a dog's wagging tail, or a child's curious hand or a simple breath can move them.
Here are a group of little angels that I think I accidentally tore a wing off each one of them today while I picked them out of the container. One-winged angels. These are all delicate, and old...and made of paper.
The churches are my favorites. All of these little buildings have , or had , colored cellophane plastic to mimic stained glass windows. Most of them, about 85 % are broken out. People used to put these houses under their Christmas trees or hang the smaller houses directly on the trees and the lights of the tree would shine through the windows.
I think they are so charming.
I even stuck a few in the windowsill back there. Oh, let me show you my Santa paintings I put above the fireplace...
I have never put Santa pictures up here before, I wanted something to look festive for our 9 year old this year. The painting in the center was my great find at the antique mall, the ones flanking it are new ones done by Lisa Scherer that I got off eBay. All of the little do-dads in front are vintage 1940-60's Christmas decorations.
Now back to my little village....
Lots of vintage bristle trees.
I can never get this steeple on straight, it broke years ago.
Here's the view if you are tall.
Here is the view if you are young and small...the best view.
Maxine's view here. I picked up my little boy from school, asked him later if he noticed I had finally set out the Christmas village ? Know what my response from him was ? Not happiness...indignation.
He goes, " I wanted to help set it up ! " Then he stomped out of the room frowning.
Cannot imagine where on earth he gets that persnickety/bossy attitude from .
Stay warm , have a nice day or night wherever you are in the world ,
Gina