National Christmas Center, Paradise, PA

On Thursday, the last day of our Collette tour, we visited the National Christmas Center in Paradise, Pennsylvania. (Isn't that a cool name for a town?) I'll walk you through some of the hundreds of exhibits in this maze of Christmas memories. I think it would be impossible to catalog every item in this center.

Here we are as we drive into the parking area.

Graham was reminded that his brother Pat had a Lionel train set when he was a child. Here is a collection that will either bring back memories or make one lust for more!

Lois is a collector of Santa's. Just as I am always on "Westie watch", she is looking for new Santa's to add to her collection. No, she didn't bring this gentleman home with her!

Christmas music was playing all throughout the museum, but I don't think any sounds were coming from this group of carolers.

There was a whole section of international Christmas displays. It's interesting to see how different cultures celebrate Christmas. This one is from Sweden.

Graham and Mr. Christmas - the resemblance is growing!

As I said, this tour sparked many a memory of Christmases past.

This is a very handsome Father Christmas. I wish I could remember his country.

Lois and Graham were reminiscing in the old Woolworth's store.

Lois's mother and father met in a Woolworth's store many years ago.

Now here's a collection of Santa's!

This is just one of many displays of Santa figurines dating back into the 1800's.

Mrs. Piggy is part of a whole room of animals enjoying the holiday season.

Appropriately, she is busily quilting something for her family.

Meanwhile the animal children have found Santa and are making their lists available for his perusal.

Moving along, we have come to the Hummel village.

I have known people who were Hummel collectors. This is a magnificent display.

Graham found his childhood here. This is from a group of displays showing the decades in America. Each of us was able to find ourselves in one of the windows.

The last part of the walking tour featured nativities. They came is all shapes and sizes, from every country and era. This one is typical of what you would find in the average Christian store.

This one was neat. It is almost life size and the angel would pop in and out of her illumination. Then you would walk a little further for "the rest of the story."

It was hard getting all of the scene in one camera shot.

The detail is wonderful, from the animals resting beside them to their hands and faces.

We appreciated the attention given to every character in the display.

On and on we walked and finally came out by the gift shop!

Here we are back in the foyer and this little train runs its course above our heads.

As we prepare to leave, this old English vendor bids us a happy trip home.

This was great preparation for the rest of our day in Lancaster County. In the afternoon we attended a Christmas musical at the American Music Theater in Lancaster, and then topped off the evening with dinner and A Christmas Carol at the Dutch Apple Dinner Theater.

When we retired for the night we had visions of sugar plums in our heads!