Wednesday, December 23, 2020

The 2020 Virtual Advent Tour: Village Under the Christmas Tree



What is the Virtual Advent Tour?

Has there ever been a year that is better suited for a Virtual Advent? 

2020 has been a hard year for everyone, and the current world scenario doesn’t suggest the upcoming holidays are going to be any easier. We’re all thinking about how to celebrate differently at a time when tradition is particularly dear. But there are some annual events that can continue unabated, and the Virtual Advent Tour is one of them, hosted for the sixth time by Sprite Writes

As you likely know, the typical Advent calendar is a season-marking device, often paper, but sometimes crafted of other materials, to count down from December 1st until Christmas. Each day, you open a door to unveil a hidden scene or piece of chocolate or some other delight. The Virtual Advent Tour is a bloggers’ take on that. In our version, each morning Sprite Writes will point you to a post at someone’s blog in which they share something about their holiday season.


Village Under the Christmas Tree

It was my next-door neighbor who inspired me. Every year Marjorie Lawrence assembled a huge village on top of her piano. Well, no piano for me. Instead...under the Christmas tree.


I have everything arranged in groups.


The manger, next to the inn and the church.




The French Quarter, filled with cafes and bakeries.



The naturalist area with cabins and fresh fruits.



Our former workplaces, the city and the school. 
Way in the back, now that we are retired.



Lots of other fun spots, most of which have been gifted to me over the years: 
Puppet show. Ice skating pond. A greenhouse. A lighthouse. A carousel. A train. 




Do you have your own village? 
Have I inspired you to start one of your own?
Merry Christmas! Happy holidays!


22 comments:

  1. Your village looks like a lovely place to spend Christmas, particularly this one! People singing. Shops open. That puppet show! My parents also have a village scene, but theirs sits atop their low wall of bookshelves.

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  2. I love your village. I have one " Christmas house" that is sitting on a stack of green-bound books on my hearth. I have no desire for a village under the tree because with an inside cat, we dare not put up a tree; she'd climb it and bring it down within twenty minutes.

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  3. How beautiful. Yes, we also have a village. Not half as elaborate as yours but we do have a nativity scene that is quite large. Might have to do my own post about that one day. Thanks for the inspiration.

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  4. Your village is so impressive! I love these, but I've never done one of my own -- I knew if I started, it would be like creating a monster and I'm already a tad tight on space! But I get so carried away looking at other peoples' villages and yours is delightful.

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  5. This is spectacular. When we downsized in 2012 I "gifted" all my favourite decorations to special friends. We are normally not home for the holidays. But this year is very different in so many ways so I broke down and bought a tiny lit tree for our balcony.

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  6. I so wish I had the proper space for a village! I think they are so beautiful, but we have 4 dogs and a crazy young cat. But I enjoy seeing others beautiful creations.

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  7. That is quite cool, village under a tree.

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  8. How special Deb. I collected several Dickens Dept. 56 pieces but, now I just leave one of the churches out 52 weeks a year

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  9. This is amazing! I admire your dedication.

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  10. Oh this makes me feel so nostalgic. My aunt use to have a little village under the tree always. The years that me and my sister played with our Barbie dolls, the village needed to be behind our Barbie village display.

    I only have the Nativity scene now, but it was also my Aunts.

    Merry Christmas Debbie!

    Lots of Love,

    Elza Reads

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  11. What a lovely village, I wish I was small enough to live in it!

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  12. Wow, I didn't expect that, love your village, it makes me think about train circuits :) I confess I have seen some little houses with Christmas decorations in our nearby shops, I felt my fingers itching to buy them :)

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  13. THANK YOU for sharing this! I love it more than I can say, and love how you put everything into little groups - just like towns and villages in real life.

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  14. How pretty! Thanks so much for sharing that, it is amazing.

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  15. What a fun idea! I love that all parts of your life are represented in the village.

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  16. Miniatures are a favorite of mine. I love model train displays that are often brought out for Christmas, and I'm really fond of doll houses. So this looks delightful. I hope you have a great Christmas.

    be safe... mae at maefood.blogspot.com

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  17. how beautiful. you arranged it nicely.

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  18. My Italian husband has gotten a handmade Christmas village when he was two years old now he is 79 ! A beautiful village and very big. Now it is with our grandson !

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  19. I have always wanted a Christmas Village set ... and I think it is perhaps a bit late to start. But I continue to admire them from afar. I love your idea of setting the village under the tree :)

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  20. The village under the Christmas tree is so cute. Merry Christmas. Have a wonderful day.

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  21. thanks for sharing all the wonderful pics

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