Share Your Christmas Village Story

Collector's Stories
Collector Stories feature real experiences from holiday village collectors — from Department 56 and Lemax traditions to inherited collections and community displays. These guest stories preserve collecting history and inspire others at every stage of their journey.

Shared Stories from Holiday Village Collectors

Holiday village collecting is deeply personal. Every collector has a story — the first piece they bought, the village that grew over time, the memories tied to family, holidays, and tradition.

We occasionally feature guest stories from fellow village collectors who want to share:

  • Why they collect
  • What drew them to Department 56, Lemax, or other brands
  • A favorite piece or display
  • How their collection has evolved over time

These stories help inspire others, preserve collecting history, and strengthen the village collector community.

Who These Stories Are For

Collector Stories are intended for individuals who have a meaningful connection to their holiday village — whether through years of collecting, inherited traditions, community displays, or personal milestones.

We are not seeking promotional articles, product reviews, resale advice, or AI-generated content.

Guest Post Guidelines

To keep this resource helpful and authentic, we ask that submissions follow a few simple rules:

Original, first-hand content only (not published elsewhere, including personal blogs or social media)
Written from personal experience as a collector
Guest stories typically range from 600–1,000 words.
Many contributors reference specific buildings, collections, or brands — which can be explored further using Village Collector’s research tools.
Stories should reflect real experience and may be lightly fact-checked for accuracy where applicable.
Photos are welcome if you own the rights to them
We reserve the right to edit for clarity, structure, formatting, and search visibility
Inclusion is subject to editorial review, not every submission will be published
Guest submissions are unpaid; Village Collector features stories for community and educational purposes only.
If selected, your post will be published with:
Your name (First and Last Initial)
Your City and State
A featured image (images should be in landscape format, 1500px wide by 1000px high)
If no photo is included, an AI generated photo may be used
Optional link to your collection or social profile
Internal links to relevant Village Collector tools and records
If published, we reserve the right to choose the date & time post is published

Interested in contributing?

Use the button below to submit a brief summary of your story for initial feedback. When submitting your summary, please include why your story matters to you and how your collection has evolved.
Submit a Collector's Story

Featured Collector's Stories

From a Halloween Aisle at Michael’s to a Halloween Village: Jason’s Story

Collector Stories

How My Grandmother’s Village Became My Own

Collector Stories

Twenty Decembers: Building a Village for Our Church Community

Collector Stories
    View Blog