I grew up in in Omaha, Nebraska, and like many communities across Wisconsin, our neighborhood decked the halls, trees, fences, roofs and yards for the holidays, rivaling but maybe not quite matching Candy Cane Lane.
On those weekends before Christmas, traffic would back up as minivans crawled through the neighborhood to see elaborate displays of lights, garlands and holiday characters. One neighborhood dad dressed up as Santa and gave out treats to visitors. People rented limousines, sipped hot chocolate and listened to carols as they cruised the streets of Applewood Heights. It was a tradition.
My own family’s efforts were meager, more of the Charlie Brown tree variety than Clark Griswold.
My dad was in charge of the outdoor decor, and it’s important to know he does not like heights. Every December, he and I went out to decorate our blue spruce tree on what always seemed to always be the coldest, windiest Nebraska day, with a mere two rows of blue lights at the bottom. The lights covered no more than 3 feet of a 15-foot tree. The top 80 percent was just darkness. We did not go up on the roof, and we barely hauled out the ladder for a single wreath. Any leftover lights that weren’t broken or half lit were then draped casually on some low bushes out front.
Lainey Seyler is the Deputy Editor/Audience for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Still, at age 12, I loved those lights. I thought the blue was chic. And I never noticed the blank top of the tree, which surely signaled to passersby that we did what could be accomplished in 2 hours or less.
Now that I’m an adult, I get to experience winter in Wisconsin, which I must admit is even more magical (and cold) than winter in Nebraska. Our long, dark winters here make the twinkling feel warmer in comparison. I feel a blip of joy when I drive home in mid-winter and my way is illuminated by more than streetlights.
For this edition, reporter Amy Schwabe reached out to residents of Candy Cane Lane to hear what it’s really like to live in the West Allis neighborhood — it’s not too far off from Applewood Heights, with some homes decorating every square inch of space, and others not so much. The spirit of giving is front and center in Schwabe’s story. Candy Cane Lane collects donations for the MACC Fund.
That’s something all the Charlie Browns and Clark Griswolds of the world can embrace.
To spread holiday cheer, the Journal Sentinel has also created an interactive map of holiday lights in the Milwaukee area. You can find it — and submit your own favorites — at jsonline.com/holidaylights. The map details holiday light displays at homes, businesses and parks in the area. It’s something I’m sure my parents wished they had in the 90s when they were looking for Christmas light displays.
These days, my own home is decorated simply with a garland, wreaths and of course, twinkly lights. My dad still decorates my parents’ house in California, but now, he uses an LED light that casts an array of dots on the exterior. Minimal assembly (and no ladders) required.
Happy holidays,
Lainey Seyler, deputy editor for audience
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Holiday light displays share magic of the season