You know it's only one more sleep 'til Christmas

[charliesmum]

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.

Comments

[jessii-6.livejournal.com]

wow.. that is indeed beautiful...

[leakyandsnort.livejournal.com]

There is a house like that over in Drexel Hill, where I grew up - with a train that went all the way around the house and everyting. It was insane.

Where in Cherry Hill?

[charliesmum.livejournal.com]

38 East to Chapel Avenue - turn right. (there's a gas station on one corner and some weird bar on the other)

Cross over Haddonfield Road (former race track on right, a bank on left, corporate offices to the left in front of you and a gas station on the right) take the next right after a 7-11. Down that street on the right are the two houses - can't miss them. The Cherry Hill Muncipal building is across from the houses and you can park there.

[deviantauthor.livejournal.com]

Glad you had fun going to see the houses. Charlie liked going?

[cactus-wren.livejournal.com]

Wow, that's crazy, even the roofs of their houses are covered! I can't imagine what their electric bill must be. We went past a house here the other day that had - no lie - at least 40 blowups in their yard. We had to drive past four times to be able to see them all. And it was a kind of busy road, we probably looked like idiots, lol.

[wolfma.livejournal.com]

That's so wonderful, and it's an expression of what Christmas is all about.

I always giggle at the rivalries. There's two houses near where I live that are across the road from each other. Each family always tries to outdo the other at Christmas. They don't live on a road across which one can actually walk, though, and they don't give out candy.

[davyjones6.livejournal.com]

thats awesome. I live in Orange County, CA.. and where I live there is an entire neighborhood that decorates ridiculously.. honestly. There's one house that is decorated like a gingerbread house, and one that actually has a working ski lift with little people on it. and the house that you can write letters to Santa.. it gets to big that the city actually closes the neighborhood off to cars and only lets people walk through it from about a week and a half before Christmas... granted its gotta a little less extravagent over the years as people have moved out. but its totally awesome and amazing especially when i was a kid, but even now i love going. Its just plain FUN!!!!

Merry Christmas!
♥
Courtney

[on-the-breath.livejournal.com]

I agree -- unbelievable and wonderful, these people! :-) You reminded me we forgot to do our "severely decorated houses' jaunt" this year, but we have the same wonderful Christmas decorators here. ;-)