It should surprise no one that manufacturers of figurines have developed a large assortment of collectibles for the holiday that is known as a time for decorating your home with lights and ornaments.  Whether you are looking to add a christmas figurine to your home as part of your seasonal christmas decorations or you are seeking a unique gift for a cherished family member or friend, your biggest problem will likely be narrowing down your many options to just one.

Christmas figurines come in a wide assortment of shapes and sizes, and celebrate a number of different aspects of the December holiday.  We have listed a few of the more popular types of christmas figurines below, but we're sure that you will find others if you are an astute collector or shopper.

Santa and Mrs. Claus - Nothing evokes thoughts of Christmas like the sight of Santa Claus and his wife.  If Santa Claus isn't quite your style, or your home is already filled with Santa decorations, then perhaps a reindeer or elf would better suit your taste.

Nativity Scene - Perhaps more popular than even Santa figurines is the nativity set, which can be found displayed around the world in December.  If you are looking for vintage christmas collectibles, then the figurines from nativity sets may be your best bet to find true antiques.

Villages - Dating back to the creation of villages out of gingerbread at christmas and the popularity of which has spread to children through the story of the gingerbread man, the decoration of one's home with scenes of a winter wonderland stems from a long tradition.  Whether you are looking for a more modern christmas village from Department 56 or a bavarian village, there's plenty to choose from.

Nutcracker Soldiers - The wooden carvings of soldiers known as nutcrackers date back to at least the 15th century, but they have spread in popularity as a christmas decoration today in part because of the Nutcracker Ballet, which was set at Christmas and frequently seen during the holiday.

Other figurines - If you associate it with christmas, there is probably a figurine somewhere commemorating it.  You will find a large assortment of figurines displaying christmas carolers singing or children in a choir, young boys and girls opening presents, and snowmen.  There's also no shortage of angel figurines.

Here is a quick list of some of the manufacturers, artists, and trademarks that I have seen associated with christmas figurines and other popular christmas decorations: Lefton, Dept. 56, Royal Doulton, Snowbabies, Precious Moments, Jim Shore, Hummel, Lenox, Lladro, Fitz & Floyd, Napco, Norman Rockwell, Boyds, Homco, Thomas Kinkade, Avon, Precious Moments, Kurt Adler, and Royal Copenhagen.  A number of Disney characters have had figurines created which featured them in christmas scenes. And Murano and Fenton have both created lines of art glass christmas trees.