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I knew a family once that had several mounted deer heads on their walls. At Christmas time, they would put a red clown nose on one of the trophies, which I though was rather clever. My kids didn’t like it at all. Unfortunately, they moved away and I couldn’t find any pictures of the idea on the internet. But I found plenty of other strange and wonderful holiday decorations that may tickle your funny bone.
I’ve written before about how people in my neck of the woods make do with what they have. In this case, they had the reindeer, but no sleigh. However, they had a Volkswagen that did just fine.
On the other hand, this homeowner had the sleigh, but no reindeer. I am aware that Santa’s sleigh pulled by flamingos is a popular decoration in Florida and other tropical states, but this one is covered with snow!
Sue Salah of Royal Oak, Michigan made quite a stir with a decoration that told a story of how dangerous it is to hang lights on a house.
A more recent version of the hanging-lights-accident comes to your inbox with a story attached, but Snopes has thus far labeled its veracity as “undetermined”.
Lighted deer frames dot the subdivisions this time of year. A few pranksters move them into what we should delicately call “compromising positions” if they were human. This decoration was altered to depict another seasonal theme, hunting season. Since it appeared on the internet a few years ago, others have tried to copy or improve on it.
With more or less success, depending on the reaction you are looking for.
Making do with what you have goes for Christmas trees as well. Anything that can be stacked in an evergreen tree shape and lit can be called a Christmas tree. Beer bottles make a nice tree, especially from a distance. At least the color is right! Mountain Dew cans are also the right color.
Beer kegs, on the other hand, require some suspension of disbelief.
A traditional Advent calendar has 24 days. A case of beer has 24 cans. Coincidence? You decide.
In this rooftop scene, Santa Claus is taking a rest stop during his rounds.
The lights on this house may look like a general tangle at first, but look closer. They’ve strung lights in the shape the the Flying Spaghetti Monster! The FSM has also shown up in smaller light displays and even tree ornaments.
When you get right down to it, simpler is better. Your neighbors may spent days trying to out-decorate Clark Griswold, but what’s important is that you make your good wishes for a Merry Christmas known to all who visit.
Comments (20)
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boy, we couldnt have a beer bottle christmas tree at my house, the kids would destroy that thing.
posted by Crow88 on 12-10-2009 at 9:01 am
The second photo of a guy hanging from the eves through is obviously not real. His weight would pull it down, or at least bend the edge a lot.
Still, most are pretty funny.
posted by rob on 12-10-2009 at 10:10 am
I love the DITTO and the beer bottles ones. Btw, Miss Cellania, you in Alabama??
posted by septerr on 12-10-2009 at 10:16 am
There’s a family in my neighborhood where I grew up (Chicago-ish) that always did the flamingo sleigh thing. They’d even put a red light on the lead flamingo’s nose. I always loved it.
posted by Susanna on 12-10-2009 at 10:27 am
May have to take up Heineken drinking just to make the tree!
But recaptcha is cider Times… hmmmm…
posted by hyacinth on 12-10-2009 at 10:43 am
septerr, I am in Kentucky.
posted by Miss Cellania on 12-10-2009 at 10:54 am
Haha! These are funny… Love the Santa pee.
posted by Levinson Axelrod on 12-10-2009 at 11:12 am
One of my neighbors would take a dummy deer he used for bow-and-arrow hunting practice and put a red nose and wreath on it for Christmas. The result was Rudolph, riddled with holes.
posted by turkey on 12-10-2009 at 11:14 am
my favorite decoration i’ve ever seen was a santa sleigh pulled by flamingos that were lighted from within…. in a deeply snowed in front yard in minnesota. the pink glow at night against the snow was awesome!
posted by velvt_wi on 12-10-2009 at 11:15 am
“The second photo of a guy hanging from the eves through is obviously not real. His weight would pull it down, or at least bend the edge a lot.”
Its a decoration, not a real person.
I may have to recreate the flamingo display at one of my relative’s house…
posted by Troy H. on 12-10-2009 at 11:59 am
The first one with the VW reminds me of Pier I’s adds from last year. Their unique ornament for the year was a decorated VW. At the end of the commercial it would fly away, attached to reindeer. Cute.
posted by kim on 12-10-2009 at 12:22 pm
Ha!
I love the “advent” calendar.. Im going to make that one.
posted by Chrystani on 12-10-2009 at 1:42 pm
If you take the no smoking symbol and replace the cigarette with a big “L” that’s what my neighbors had on the side of their house one year. Also the people up the street put two lighted reindeers in a rather intimate position once.
posted by Natasha on 12-10-2009 at 1:44 pm
in the movie “Christmas with the Kranks”, in the final scene, Austin Pendleton as Santa flies away in his VW pulled by reindeer….
posted by Mama9cats on 12-10-2009 at 3:36 pm
@Hyacinth
Those look like bottles of Grolsch. The white flip tops add a nice snow/ornament feel to it, I think. Plus you don’t have to worry about getting a ton of paper labels off.
posted by nikki on 12-10-2009 at 3:50 pm
My neighbor is doing the ditto idea this year. I am highly amused. :)
posted by weeberc3 on 12-10-2009 at 9:48 pm
Thanks for the laugh! I just love them all and there certainly is one smile for everyone here!
posted by LadyOTrout on 12-11-2009 at 2:54 am
Loved these. My best friend is a lover of all things kitschy, and this year she found Santa costumes meant for small dogs and used them to dress up her front-yard flamingos.
posted by JessG on 12-13-2009 at 9:13 pm
Snopes has since updated the info about the hanging lights story
posted by Nicole on 12-24-2009 at 8:29 am
My favorite one is the DITTO one. It’s very creative and extremely funny. Whoever thought of that was a genius!
posted by Brandy on 8-4-2010 at 1:26 am