Staff goes all out for the holidays

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Photo courtesy of Chris Houget

Chris Houget’s house decked out during the holidays.

Outgoing decorators adorn the outsides of their houses more than what a person would usually do for the holidays. When people walk by their houses, they want them to have “eye candy” to look at, to uplift peoples’ spirits for the holidays. They also think that it is a great way to unify the community because a lot of events can benefit from getting ready to decorate for the holidays such as decoration trades.

“I think we’ve seen throughout history that different people and countries approach different holidays in different ways. Some celebrate Christmas into January, but I think it’s whatever your community likes to do. It provides a sense of excitement and communitism to get people gathered together at some point,” said hall monitor Tracy Nelson.

On an average, decorating usually takes eight hours to finish. People who go all out with decorating usually start off with buying their decorations, and later on in their lives, trading and buying used decorations. They usually spend between $300-500 on decorations all together for their decoration sites outside their houses, according to outgoing decorators, Mr. Hoguet and Mrs. Wood.

“I don’t spend much any more since I’ve collected so many lights and decorations throughout the years. Since most of what I buy comes from garage sales, I’d say that I have probably spent about $500 total in the last three years on decorations,” said math teacher Chris Houget.

“We usually buy after Christmas when they are on clearance, and there hasn’t been many left the last couple years, so I would say around $500,” said life fitness teacher Michelle Wood.

They prefer to start the decorating three to four weeks before the actual holiday comes up, then take the decorations down the day or weekend after the holiday. Outgoing decorators have big displays of decorations that many drivers, pedestrians and neighbors really like. Wood decorates her house with lights. She puts lights around her house, bushes, and Christmas characters. She also makes words and symbols with the lights on her lawn and house. Hoguet goes all out with the Christmas characters, lights, and Christmas blow ups. Here are some things people have said to them both.

“One of the little cards we got was from a mother of a little three year old who wanted to ride past our house every night to see the (Christmas lights),” Wood said.

“Most of the time people give me suggestions about going on the “Great Christmas Light Fight” TV show, but those people are at another level. I have received lots of compliments, but my favorites are when people bring their kids year after year to see my display, and hearing that my house is the kids’ favorite,” Houget said.