Ho, ho, holidays are upon us, and a new festive LEGO set is perfect for a stay-home activity. The sweetest (quite literally) build awaits!
LEGO 40809 Festive Gingerbread House contains 498 pieces and is recommended for ages 10 and up. Don’t be deceived by the cutesy appearance and candy-coloured hues, older children will find it a fun and challenging build as well. Mr 6.5yo was able to complete it independently, although the roof assembly was somewhat frustrating (more on that later).
Build experience of LEGO 40809 Festive Gingerbread House
LEGO 40809 Festive Gingerbread House consists of 6 bags of LEGO pieces. Bags 1 and 2 contain parts for one side of the lower half of the gingerbread house, while Bags 3 and 4 contain parts for the other side. Bag 5 and Bag 6 contain parts for one side each of the roof.
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Starting with Bags 1-4, we worked on the ground floor of this two-storey gingerbread house. Built with warm brown bricks and trimmed with white “icing”, this cozy cottage really evokes memories of childhood fairytale gingerbread houses.
The build is relatively straightforward, although Mr 6.5yo did comment that it got a little repetitive building the stained glass windows again and again and again (six times, if we counted correctly!). So worth it though, these colourful windows turned out to be one of our favourite parts of the build for the bright and cheery touch they add to the house.
The two sides of the gingerbread house are joined together by a simple hinge joint, that enables the house to be opened up or closed.
Moving on to bags 5-6, this is where it started to get a little tricky. Building the frame for the roof was a delicate exercise and required some skill and precision, otherwise the slender top layer of the roof would collapse if too much force was applied.
After building the roof panels, it was another exercise in care and patience to assemble it onto the main structure. The roof panels are attached with hinge joints that allow them to flap open slightly, and these hinge joints have to be carefully attached – otherwise the roof structure would, again, collapse.
It was really a test of patience and perseverance for Mr 6.5yo (and this has to be done twice for both sides of the house!), but he ultimately succeeded and was so proud of his accomplishment!
Minifigure – Santa Claus is coming to town!
There is just one minifigure included – Santa, presumably visiting the gingerbread house to make a special delivery. Complete with his signature hat and beard, Santa comes with a sack accessory. LEGO Santa certainly looks a lot more fit than most Santas you see around, without that characteristic paunch!
We did think that it would have been fun to have a Gingerbread Man residing in the gingerbread house as well – maybe next year?
Review of LEGO 40809 Festive Gingerbread House
“It looks so yummy I feel like taking a bite!”
No, this gingerbread house is unfortunately not edible, but it certainly comes close with its whimsical candy decoration. Gumdrop roof tiles, candy cane door frames, licorice stacks strewn on the front stoop and even that irresistibly cute donut doorknob – kids will be licking their lips as they build and dreaming of all their sweetest candy fantasies!
We like the fact that the gingerbread house has two different looks that is achieved with just a simple hinge joint. It can be closed up to be displayed as a single house with a front and back door, or it can be opened up and transformed into a duplex, with two different frontages. Just imagine a row of these lined up as a street of adorable gingerbread houses!
With the gingerbread house opened up, you will be able to admire the dollhouse-esque interior. The four interior rooms are fully furnished. Check out the kitchen complete with a hob, sink, dining table and chair. There are even cookies and milk set out in anticipation of Santa’s arrival! Over on the bottom right is a living room which includes a cozy fireplace and bay window.
Head upstairs and you will find a bedroom on the right, and another room containing a desk, chair and some presents. We love the little detail of an envelope and pen – perfect for writing letters to Santa of course!
LEGO 40809 Festive Gingerbread House is a fun festive build that is sure to get kids psyched up for Christmas. After building, it serves as a lovely display item to add to your festive decor, while kids can have their fun placing Santa around in the different rooms around the house – perhaps even up on the roof?
