VillageDex Blog

Guides, value insights, and collecting tips for Christmas village enthusiasts.

St. Nicholas Square Village: The Complete Collector's Guide

St. Nicholas Square is Kohl's exclusive Christmas village brand with over 600 pieces since 1999 — and one of the hobby's best-kept secrets.

VillageDex TeamApril 23, 20265 min read
st nicholas squarekohlssnsbrand guidecollecting tips2025 collection

How to Store and Protect Your Christmas Village: The Complete Guide

How you store your village determines whether it survives intact for next year. This guide covers everything from basic boxing techniques to long-term preservation strategies used by serious collectors.

VillageDex TeamApril 16, 20265 min read
storage tipsprotectiondisplaycollecting tipsorganization

Lemax vs Department 56: Which Christmas Village Brand Is Right for You?

It's the question every new collector asks: should I collect Lemax or Department 56? Both brands make beautiful Christmas village pieces, but they're designed for different collectors with different priorities.

VillageDex TeamApril 9, 20265 min read
lemaxdepartment 56comparisonbrand guidecollecting tips

Complete Guide to Lemax Retired Pieces [2025-2026 Updated List]

Lemax retires dozens of Christmas village pieces every year — and once they're gone, they're gone for good. For 2025 and 2026, the retirements are significant: 96 pieces were retired in 2025 and another 105 in 2026.

VillageDex TeamApril 2, 20265 min read
lemaxretired piecesretirement list20252026caddingtonspooky townvail village

The Complete Beginner's Guide to Christmas Village Collecting

Whether you've inherited a box of village pieces or are just getting started at your local Michaels store, Christmas village collecting is one of the most rewarding — and surprisingly deep — hobbies around.

VillageDex TeamMarch 26, 20265 min read
beginners guidecollecting tipsdepartment 56lemaxst nicholas squaredisplay tips