Santa’s Holiday Countdown gives a LEGO display a daily job
The new 40874 holiday model combines a cheerful Santa sculpture with a reusable countdown, turning a seasonal build into a small daily ritual.
A decoration that asks you to come back
Santa’s Holiday Countdown 40874 gives its finished model something to do after the last piece is attached. Two numbered drums sit inside the front of the chimney, framed by a green wreath. Turning the side knobs changes the countdown. Above them, Santa waits with his sack of presents.
This desk review draws on LEGO’s official description and product imagery, rather than a hands-on build. The company lists 873 pieces and an age recommendation of 10+. The finished model measures over 20 centimeters high, with a footprint of 13 by 12 centimeters. Its compact base makes the idea of a daily display especially appealing.
A different kind of December countdown
LEGO included the set in its September 15 holiday announcement, with an October 1, 2026 release. As checked October 21, the US product page lists it at $59.99 and available now; local pricing and stock may differ.
The important distinction for a family choosing a seasonal activity is the format. This is a single reusable calendar model with manually adjusted numbers. Its daily appeal comes from returning to an already-built scene. Plan the main building session before you want to start that routine, then decide who gets to turn the knobs each morning. That is our suggested way to use the feature, not an extra activity supplied in the box.
The wreath makes the mechanism part of the scene
Our visual reading of the official image is that the countdown succeeds because it is integrated into the chimney rather than placed on a separate sign. The wreath draws attention to the digits, while Santa’s broad red-and-white outline remains readable above them. The knobs sit to either side, where a viewer can understand how the calendar is operated.
That creates a useful display consideration: leave access to the sides. Tucking it tightly between larger decorations could make a perfectly visible calendar awkward to update. A clear, reachable shelf is a better match for an object intended to be handled regularly.
Think beyond the first holiday
LEGO describes the countdown as a perpetual calendar. For a household that enjoys bringing favorite decorations back each year, the reusable format is the attraction. Store it with its instructions and keep the complete model together, or make rebuilding it part of the next season.
We have not tested the turning action or long-term durability, so those remain questions for a hands-on assessment. What the official design already communicates is a cheerful, understandable task: build a scene, change its numbers, and give the household one small reason to visit it again.
Reporting checked October 21, 2026. Plans and programs can change; follow the linked organizations for current information.