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Yesterday we did our annual 'go check out the severely decorated houses' jaunt, and that really made it feel like Christmas.
Every year these two houses in Cherry Hill decorate for Christmas. And the word 'decorate' doesn't even begin to cover the amount of lights, moving reindeer, blow-up statues and Santas they have. Every inch of their houses are covered in lights, and every square foot of their garden has some sort of Christmas ornamant on it.
You may think it is tacky but no, it has transended tacky, because people come from all around to stop and wander through the two yards; wide-eyed children and adults who still find it in their hearts to appreciate the over-the-top pagentry of the whole thing. One house gives out lollypops and the other guy sits on his porch in a Santa suit and gives out candy canes. It has gone past tacky and right into beautiful.
To me it is the epitome of the spirit of Christmas. I don't know how many hours it takes them to set everything up, and I'm sure they spend hundreds of dollars on lights and decorations. They always have the newest thing on hand; this year they had those snow globe things, and I hate to even think what their electric bill is. They don't do it to gain anything, friendly rivalry notwithstanding, they do it to bring pleasure to people who will see it, and that is the spirit that prevades the place. That loving-kindness is what turns plastic decorations into magic, and fills everyone's hearts with that elusive wonder of Christmas.
Every year these two houses in Cherry Hill decorate for Christmas. And the word 'decorate' doesn't even begin to cover the amount of lights, moving reindeer, blow-up statues and Santas they have. Every inch of their houses are covered in lights, and every square foot of their garden has some sort of Christmas ornamant on it.
You may think it is tacky but no, it has transended tacky, because people come from all around to stop and wander through the two yards; wide-eyed children and adults who still find it in their hearts to appreciate the over-the-top pagentry of the whole thing. One house gives out lollypops and the other guy sits on his porch in a Santa suit and gives out candy canes. It has gone past tacky and right into beautiful.
To me it is the epitome of the spirit of Christmas. I don't know how many hours it takes them to set everything up, and I'm sure they spend hundreds of dollars on lights and decorations. They always have the newest thing on hand; this year they had those snow globe things, and I hate to even think what their electric bill is. They don't do it to gain anything, friendly rivalry notwithstanding, they do it to bring pleasure to people who will see it, and that is the spirit that prevades the place. That loving-kindness is what turns plastic decorations into magic, and fills everyone's hearts with that elusive wonder of Christmas.
