Sunday, December 5, 2010

Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories: December 5 - Outdoor Decorations

DECEMBER 5 - Outdoor Decorations

Did people in your neighborhood decorate with lights? Did some people really "go all out" when decorating? Any stories involving your ancestors and decorations?


As a kid growing up, Mama put up some outdoor lights. But never many. Daddy was gone in the Navy most of the time, and it was difficult to get the lights up and then back down on her own. She did often put them around the windows and doors so we had some lights up.

Years later, after I left home, they purchased a large nativity set that lit up and sat in the yard.

Some neighbors did in fact, go all out! Some had complicated mechanical animations in their yards! [This was way back in the day when you couldn't just go buy those things, but had to build them yourself if you wanted them!]

I remember one neighbor when I was about ten who had a giant "Jack-In-The-Box" in his yard! The box was a large gaily Christmas wrapped box, and music would play, and when it reached a certain part of the song [I think it was "Jingle Bells"] this giant Santa would pop up out of the box when the lid opened! As the song continued, Santa slowly sank back into the box and the lid closed. You can imagine all the children of the neighborhood were agog at that one!

Texican and I have never put up any outdoor lights. That is until this year. We just have a simgle strand around our porch railing. But I love it!!! It certainly seems more festive!

What about you?

2 comments:

Diana Ritchie said...

Oh my gosh - that jack-in-the-box sounds amazing! I bet people came from other neighborhoods just to see it!

Lori H said...

Oh, I would have loved to have seen that Jack in the Box, too! That must have been really awesome.