Department 56 CollectiblesThe Department 56 name is the first to jump into most peoples' minds when you mention Christmas Villages, and they have had quite a lot of experience creating them since they introduced their first village line, the Original Snow Village, in 1976. Department 56 was originally part of a Minneapolis floral company called Bachman's, from which it eventually separated and grew into the stand alone corporation it is today. There are two main Department 56 Snow Village collections to start with, which are the Original Snow Village and the Heritage Village Collection. Other than their more obvious differences, the main thing that sets the two series apart is that the Original Snow Village collection pieces are made of ceramic and given a glossy, glazed finish while the Heritage Village Collection pieces are matte-finished porcelain. The Original Snow Village collection features more of the small-town, traditional houses and holiday scenes for those who like the elegant simplicity of suburban life in the mid-20th century. These Department 56 snow villages put a strong emphasis on the family aspect of the Christmas season and often depict American families celebrating together. The Heritage Village Collection, on the other hand is actually comprised of a number of different series, such as the Christmas In the City series, which features historical landmarks like the Empire State Building and the Golden Gate Bridge decorated for the holidays and has easily become one of the most popular lines of Department 56 villages. There are also such themes as the New England Village, Alpine Village, North Pole and Holy Land series, each of which has their own special flair and appeal for collectors of all ages. Although more widely known for their Christmas village pieces, Department 56 collectibles include the popular Snowbabies line, which was first introduced in 1986. They were given a home, known as Frosty Frolic Land to live and play, and have since taken on a life of their own as their popularity grew. These days the Snowbaby line has been expanded to include special themes, such as the Let's Pretend series and the Guest Collection, which features the Snowbabies playing with some of the most beloved characters from books and movies. Department 56 collectibles go beyond Christmas decorations, too! There are Irish-themed houses, spooky castles for Halloween, and even a whole line of patriotic accessories to celebrate our nation's heritage in the summer months. It doesn't matter which of the holidays is your favorite, there are enough decorations and fun to last the whole year through. There are also plenty of extra items like benches, trees, bridges, streets, snow, waterfalls, fountains, lights and even animals to add realism to your display, and they are all interchangeable with the different series, making mixing and matching pieces from separate collections into your own unique Department 56 village incredibly easy and fun. Christmas is a time to celebrate with our closest friends and members of our family, and is most often associated with happiness and good feelings, so it's no surprise that so many people want to keep it in their hearts 12 months a year. With Department 56 collectibles, which are both "Christmasy" and classy, you can put a little piece of the holidays in your heart and home any time and keep it there forever. more than department 56 collectibles on our Collectible Figurines page
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