A Victorian Christmas Village Mantle Display

I realized recently that I've never shared my Victorian Christmas Village on the blog. It began over twenty years ago when I was gifted a couple of buildings from my parent's Dickensville Christmas village. After downsizing they no longer had room for it and split up their set.



I'm a sucker for all things miniature and had admired their village for many years. I was thrilled to start my own village and Mr. Frugalista helped expand the collection by gifting me with a new building every Christmas until they were no longer available. This year I found some cute sandwich board signs to add to the collection.



A nostalgic Victorian Christmas Village display on a fireplace mantle. A two level miniature Christmas scene with sentimental value.

Victorian Christmas Village

You may want to grab a beverage before we start the tour, I took a lot of pictures. The Christmas village is displayed on our living room mantle and has slowly expanded onto two levels.



Mr. Frugalista made a raised wood platform that runs the span of the mantle for the back buildings. The wires get tucked underneath and then covered with a sheet of faux snow fabric. I may try using styrofoam next year and mold some stairs going down to the town center below.



A nostalgic Victorian Christmas Village display on a fireplace mantle. A two level miniature Christmas scene with sentimental value.

We'll begin the tour with a quick video, albeit not a polished production style video, more of a homespun movie if you will. LOL



Homespun Victorian Christmas Village Video



Let's start at the old train station that's been converted into an antique market. The train used to run here but we ran out of room to expand the tracks to the next town. 😉



A nostalgic Victorian Christmas Village display on a fireplace mantle. A two level miniature Christmas scene with sentimental value.

Next door is the skating pond in Town Square where many villagers come to enjoy a skate. It's getting a little crowded on the ice, time for a rink expansion.



A nostalgic Victorian Christmas Village display on a fireplace mantle. A two level miniature Christmas scene with sentimental value.


A nostalgic Victorian Christmas Village display on a fireplace mantle. A two level miniature Christmas scene with sentimental value.


There's a rink side park bench for the skaters to rest their weary ankles.



A nostalgic Victorian Christmas Village display on a fireplace mantle. A two level miniature Christmas scene with sentimental value.


Carolers are at the gazebo next to the frozen pond for the skaters to enjoy holiday music. The cardinals seem to be enjoying the music too!



A nostalgic Victorian Christmas Village display on a fireplace mantle. A two level miniature Christmas scene with sentimental value.

Moving along to the city center is the brand new Canadian Tire store that opened on September 15, 1922. Looks like they got a supply of fresh wreaths for the holidays. Uh oh, the squirrels are going after the pine cones!



A nostalgic Victorian Christmas Village display on a fireplace mantle. A two level miniature Christmas scene with sentimental value.


The villagers are thrilled to have a store that carries everything from housewares to hardware, sporting goods, and even automotive supplies all under one roof! And there's a gas pump outside for our wealthier citizens driving those Model T Fords.



A nostalgic Victorian Christmas Village display on a fireplace mantle. A two level miniature Christmas scene with sentimental value.

Next door at the Tea House Mr. & Mrs. Flake are enticing shoppers with their fresh-baked daily specials.



A nostalgic Victorian Christmas Village display on a fireplace mantle. A two level miniature Christmas scene with sentimental value.

The aroma is too hard to resist and it is a popular spot for the locals to relax and enjoy an afternoon orange pekoe tea.



A nostalgic Victorian Christmas Village display on a fireplace mantle. A two level miniature Christmas scene with sentimental value.

Next, we arrive at the Post Office where it's very busy this time of year.



A nostalgic Victorian Christmas Village display on a fireplace mantle. A two level miniature Christmas scene with sentimental value.

I hear the church bells ringing, let's make the trek up the hill to the street above, shall we? Father Francais and Sister Theresa are standing outside to wish their parishioners a Merry Christmas while the choir sings Christmas carols inside.



A nostalgic Victorian Christmas Village display on a fireplace mantle. A two level miniature Christmas scene with sentimental value.

Next door is the beautiful Queen Anne mansion decked out for the holidays. Mrs. Elliott is sitting on the porch swing watching the little ones play in the yard.



A nostalgic Victorian Christmas Village display on a fireplace mantle. A two level miniature Christmas scene with sentimental value.

Next door is the Kinney family Victorian mansion. The twins are having such fun making a snowman while Elizabeth makes a snow angel.



A nostalgic Victorian Christmas Village display on a fireplace mantle. A two level miniature Christmas scene with sentimental value.

Next to them is Edward leaving his Tudor mansion for his daily walk to the post office while Mary and the children finish lunch inside. The kids are hoping their aunts and uncles sent Christmas parcels their way.



A nostalgic Victorian Christmas Village display on a fireplace mantle. A two level miniature Christmas scene with sentimental value.

The last house on the street is the Georgian mansion where John is shoveling the walk while little Charles makes a snowman nearby.



A nostalgic Victorian Christmas Village display on a fireplace mantle. A two level miniature Christmas scene with sentimental value.

I hope you enjoyed the tour! Wishing you the simplicity of an old-fashioned Christmas.



Speaking of old-fashioned Christmas, did you catch the post on how to make a fresh cranberry garland? It includes a link to instructions for making a dried orange garland as well.



It was fun sharing my village collection with you. If you prefer a more simple Christmas village, you may enjoy the DIY Scandinavian Scrap Wood Village I made recently. It sits on top of a cabinet in our front entrance and is backlit for evening ambiance to welcome guests.



Almost all of the DIY projects shared here at Interior Frugalista have step-by-step tutorials so why not get your budget DIY on and subscribe. You can also follow us on PinterestFacebookInstagram, and YouTube.



Thanks for stopping by the Interior Frugalista today! I hope you were inspired by my Christmas village display. If you have any questions, please leave them in the comment section below or the Contact Me tab at the top to drop me an email. I love hearing from you!



If you enjoyed this Christmas miniature display, I'd be so thankful if you shared it with a friend and pinned it to your Christmas Decorations or Christmas Villages board on Pinterest.




A Merry Old-Fashioned Christmas Village Tour with video of a Victorian Christmas Village two-level mantle display with sentimental value. #christmasvillage #christmasscene

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Comments

  1. Oh I loved this tour!! I loved the stories you told and the whole set up is absolutely gorgeous! I don't have anything like this set up for my christmas decor but you're inspiring me to get it! Thanks Marie!

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    1. So glad you enjoyed the tour, Joanne! I adore my Christmas village and it's the first holiday decor I set up every year and the last I take down.

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  2. I so enjoyed your Christmas village tour, Marie! I use to have one at our old home and donated it when we downsized too! Part of mine was electric with skaters that moved around. I had forgotten about it until I saw yours! Thanks for bringing back wonderful memories!

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    1. It must have been hard parting with yours, Gail. I know it was for my parents. Yes, my parents had that same electric skating rink too and I believe it even played music! So glad the tour brought back "good" memories of your village.

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  3. I do love a Christmas village and this one is so cute! I love the memories that it invokes. Thank you for sharing.

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  4. What a lovely collection Marie. I enjoyed the tour very much.

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  5. I love your village Marie! I think that steps down from the upper level would be so cute too!

    Tania

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    1. Thanks Tania! Oh yes, those steps are definitely happening next year and maybe a third tier *wink* *wink*

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  6. What a beautiful village! Thank you for the tour, Marie. Pinning.
    Sheila

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    1. So glad you enjoyed the tour, Sheila, and thanks also for the pin! xo

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  7. Hi Marie
    Your village tour was so fun. You have some great pieces. I had a Dept. 56 village that I collected for many years and then I think our first downsized move I gave it to my daughter. Seeing yours I wish I still had mine. It does get set up at my daughters so I enjoy it there. This looks so pretty I could keep yours up year around. Happy New Week. xoxo Kris

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    1. Your sweet comment made my day Kris, thank you! I put the village up weeks before the tree and it's the last of the holiday decor to be taken down after New Year's because I love it so much.

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  8. I loved the village tour! I’ve had six hodge-podgey buildings that I gathered from here, there, and everywhere back when we didn’t have very much money. This year I bought the Pioneer Woman Merchantile from Walmart to make 7 buildings.

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    1. Glad you enjoyed the tour, Kristie! I haven't seen the Pioneer Woman Mercantile at Walmart and you've piqued my curiosity. Heading online to check it out now.

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    1. Thank you Jenna! My little grandkids, especially grandson, are fascinated by the village and want to play with the figurines. It's hard stating the No Touch rule but some of those figurines are vintage.

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  10. Marie this is absolutely adorable. And you have so many pretty homes in your village. I can absolutely see collecting these if only I had the space. Maybe in my next house. Merry Christmas dear friend.

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    1. Thank you Mary, I'm glad you enjoyed the tour! Merry Christmas to you and your family as well my friend. xo

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  11. I love your Victorian Christmas village. I bet I could spend a lot of time just staring at it and coming up with my own stories! What a beautiful addition to your fireplace mantel!

    Thanks for linking up and sharing this post with us on our Embracing Home and Family-link up!

    -Cherelle

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  12. Aww, Marie, I loved the video tour with the music...perfect! It transported me to a tiny 1800's English village with everyone enjoying the outdoors and visiting the businesses and church!! Then I read your little stories under each picture and it absolutely just made me smile...literally, I was smiling!!! Love your little village! I totally understand why this would be the first and last thing to put up and take down after the holidays!! Thank you so much for sharing this!!!

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    1. You made my day, Karolyn! I'm so happy to hear you enjoyed the video and village story. Thank you so much for leaving your sweet comment to let me know! xo

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  13. Your Christmas village is so magical Marie. If I had one like this, I would want to keep it up all year.

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    1. Thank you so much, Kim! Believe me, if I could get away with it, I would. LOL

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