Ghosts Of Christmas Lawn Decorations Past
Many family holiday traditions include Christmas lawn decorations. Americans love decorating for the holidays, and naturally, this passion extends to the outside of their homes. Not satisfied with the traditional string of Christmas lights on the gutter, many began to include Christmas lawn decorations in their overall holiday decorating scheme in the 1950's.
Early lawn decorations during the 1950's and 1960's often featured figures handcrafted from plywood, with Santa and his sleigh, the Nativity, and angels among the most popular scenes. Far from the electronically animated figures and displays of today, these decorations were often created in the garage and hand painted with bright colors. Often, work lights were used to spotlight the yard displays.
Of course, as technology developed, so did holiday decorating. Brightly colored, blow mold plastic yard art figures, complete with an inside light bulb, were soon developed to upgrade holiday displays. Santa, angels, elves and the reindeer were popular, most measuring between three and four feet tall. Easy to use and more economical each year, these figures continue to be popular even today.
Elaborate yard displays continued to grow in popularity throughout 1980's and 1990's. Many neighborhoods began hosting official competitions, with prizes and "bragging rights" for the winners. Some of the most interesting displays grew out of the "unofficial" neighborhood competitions, however, with homeowners trying to outdo each other with more and more creative presentations. Several holiday movies, including the 1989's popular "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" satirized the growing American tradition.
The development of better wire armatures, less expensive electronics and PVC plastic led to a new generation of Christmas yard decorations in the new century. Reindeer, snowmen and other figures built of plastic wrapped wire armatures and lit with twinkle lights became popular in 2000 and 2001. The desirability of these figures continues strong, with new animated movements rekindling consumer demand.
Sign making materials made of PVC plastic finished with holographic plastic are making lighted Christmas yard décor even more affordable, with animated figures priced less than $50 at discount chains. Perhaps the most visible new trend in yard displays is the inflatable decoration. These large, balloon like figures are kept inflated by an internal air pump and have even begun featuring movement and "snow" effects.
The Christmas lawn decoration craze is here to stay. Many homeowners compliment their old style decorations with the newest items on the market in the ever escalating quest to outdo their neighbors. Decorating for the holidays is a cherished American tradition; a tradition that will certainly be around for a long time to come.