There are a few brands out there that you consistently associate with gift giving – and LEGO is certainly one of them. They’ve been increasingly moving towards themed sets in addition to having licensed builds available, and this year’s there’s a especially fun selection of sets that ties into the holidays really well. We’re checking out four of them today, with two larger builds for a Christmas Tree and Wreath and two smaller ones for a set of Gingerbread ornaments and a Nutcracker set.
LEGO Christmas Tree Set
The LEGO Christmas Tree set (box number 40573) is a festive eyecatcher, showcasing the largest standalone tree ever produced by LEGO as a set. Designer Mel Caddick employs a clever slice-by-slice assembly method, creating an organic and visually appealing conifer as you start adding layer after layer. Before diving into the tree construction, however, a sturdy base adorned with festive tiles ensures stability. That’s not just a gimmick either, because the finished tree stands at around 29cm tall. Once completed, it becomes a charming centerpiece with subtle decorations like candles, hearts, baubles, and gold stars, offering an elegant holiday decoration that’s a tasteful part of any LEGO fan’s holiday decor.
The box offers a 2-in-1 feature, which here allows builders to choose between assembling one large tree or two smaller ones. While the smaller trees are an interesting alternative, the larger tree steals the spotlight, raising questions about the necessity of the secondary model unless you feel like having one on either side of the chimney or something like that. The building process, detailed across two instruction manuals, is mostly engaging, with spare parts encouraging customization for a personal touch – though a degree of repetitiveness can’t be denied. The set’s versatile color palette includes green, red, and black, offering 784 parts, 13 spares, and excellent value for money when you look at the cost per part.
Despite minor critiques about the build process possible being repetitive, the final models, especially the larger tree, make for impressive display pieces. The LEGO Christmas Tree set is a wonderful holiday season gift idea, appealing to LEGO enthusiasts aged 12 and up this holiday season.
LEGO Christmas wreath
The LEGO Christmas Wreath set (40426) is another exciting addition to the festive LEGO lineup, and it’s another one that offers a 2-in-1 building experience. With approximately 510 pieces, this set provides the elements needed to create either a wall-mounted wreath (with a red bow) or a tabletop centerpiece (with some candles on top). The packaging features a sturdy box with a lid-style closure, promoting easy storage for holiday decorations year after year – since you’ll want to make bringing this one out a tradition. The building process for the wreath involves constructing a ring with 15 identical segments though, which (as with the tree) can be seen as slightly repetitive but results in a stable base for the wreath.
The set includes two instruction booklets, each focusing on one of the two main builds. The wreath build involves adding lots of greenery to the ring, creating a visually appealing and organic design. The use of various plant elements, including 96 foliage pieces made from plant-derived plastic, adds a festive touch. The tabletop centerpiece variation incorporates candles at different heights, providing a unique element to the design. Additionally, the set offers the flexibility to choose between a symmetrical or asymmetrical look for the wreath, so if you want to you can mix things up every year.
One notable feature is that the design allows for alternative builds, showcasing four additional wreath ideas out of the box with flexibility to personalize them. The set’s price point is reasonable for the value provided, considering the potential for multiple builds and the inclusion of spare parts for customization – as well as the fact that you can bring this one out year after year. The final models, whether hung on a wall or displayed on a table, make for attractive holiday decorations. The LEGO wreath is a thoughtful and creative gift idea for individuals aged 18 and above who appreciate the art of LEGO building and holiday-themed decor.
LEGO Nutcracker
If you’re looking for a smaller and slightly more budget-friendly build that is still very much Christmas-themed, the LEGO Nutcracker (set 40640) is a great choice. It’s a customizable build that you can build as either a male or female version of the iconic nutcracker, though both builds are very similar otherwise.
The final result is about 16 cm tall, and features arms and a mouth that can move. And while the two larger sets above are meant for older builders, the nutcracker has a recommended age rating of 8+, making is a family-friend build that can be done together with the kids in about an hour during Christmas. As such, this is a wonderful Christmas stocking gift that’ll look great as a mantle piece when done.
LEGO Gingerbread Ornaments
If you have younger builders in your household, then the LEGO Gingerbread Ornaments (set 40642) is what you’ll want to look out for during this holiday season. Designed for ages 6 and up, this one features designs to create three different gingerbread (wo)men – which can then be hung in your Christmas tree (though not the LEGO one we discussed above).
The Gingerbread creations you make out of LEGO are about 11 cm tall each, which makes them a good size for the height of the average tree people have in their houses without being too dominant or too small. They’re fairly easy builds that won’t take too much time either, and with the pieces supplied you can customize their look and feel to make them unique and/or switch their look and feel around year after year.
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