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Did you know?
  • The original Rudolph did not have a red nose. In that day and age, red noses were seen as an indicator of chronic alcoholism and Montgomery Ward didn’t want him to look like a drunkard. To complete the original picture, he was almost named Reginald or Rollo.
  • The Christmas wreath was originally hung as a symbol of Jesus. The holly represents his crown of thorns and the red berries the blood he shed.
  • The three traditional colors of most Christmas decorations are red, green and gold. Red symbolizes the blood of Christ, green symbolized life and rebirth, and gold represents light, royalty and wealth.
  • Tinsel was invented in 1610 in Germany and was once made of real silver.
  • The oldest artificial Christmas trees date back to the late 1800s and were made of green raffia (think grass hula skirts) or dyed goose feathers. Next the Addis Brush Company used their machinery that wove toilet brushes to create pine-like branches for artificial Christmas trees that were less flammable and could hold heavier decorations.
  • ‘Jingle Bells’ – the popular Christmas song was composed by James Pierpont in Massachusetts, America. It was, however, written for thanksgiving and not Christmas.
  • Coca-Cola was the first company that used Santa Claus during the winter season for promotion.
  • Hallmark introduced their first Christmas cards in 1915.
  • The first recorded date of Christmas being celebrated on December 25th was in 336, during the time of the Roman Emperor Constantine. A few years later, Pope Julius I officially declared that the birth of Jesus would be celebrated on that day.
  • Santa Claus's sleigh is led by eight reindeer: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Dunder (variously spelled Donder and Donner), and Blixem (variously spelled Blixen and Blitzen), with Rudolph being a 20th-century inclusion.
  • Outdoor Christmas lights on homes evolved from decorating the traditional Christmas tree and house with candles during the Christmas season. Lighting the tree with small candles dates back to the 17th century and originated in Germany before spreading to Eastern Europe.
  • That big, jolly man in the red suit with a white beard didn’t always look that way. Prior to 1931, Santa was depicted as everything from a tall gaunt man to a spooky-looking elf. He has donned a bishop's robe and a Norse huntsman's animal skin. When Civil War cartoonist Thomas Nast drew Santa Claus for Harper's Weekly in 1862, Santa was a small elflike figure who supported the Union. Nast continued to draw Santa for 30 years, changing the color of his coat from tan to the red he’s known for today.
    • Christmas 2018 countdown has already begun. Will you be ready??? Why do we love Christmas? It's all about the traditions. In this chaotic world we can miss the "good old days." Christmas reminds us of that time.

    Sea_Gypsy

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    About Sea_Gypsy

    • Rank
      New Member
    • Birthday 02/19/1956

    Contact Methods

    • Website URL
      http://www.nightsofshimmeringlights.com

    Profile Information

    • My favorite Christmas story
      We organize over 2 miles and a million lights in a drive-through light park. It is always rewarding to see people who are feeling low when they arrive to leave smiling.
    • Location
      Tampa, FL
    • Biography
      Recently moved to NY
    • Interests
      computerized lighting and sailing
    • Occupation
      electronics supply chain
    • About my display
      3rd year display and a really, really big yard this year
    1. Sea_Gypsy started following Florida Mini 2012, Hle Pre Season Sale 2013, Mini Chase Controllers and 2 others
    2. Sea_Gypsy
      I'm looking for a source for 2, 3 & 4 channel mini controllers. Just a simple cycle controller that comes on when powered up and continuously repeats the same cycle. No programming needed. For example, to make a dog's tail wag back and forth or a Santa's hand waving. I need several so looking for an economical solution. Second question, does anyone know how to fix the above controllers which have stopped working? Thanks for you help.
    3. Sea_Gypsy
      I'm having a very high failure rate on my LED strings (2nd year) where 1/2 of the string is out at the resistor pack. This is happening mostly on 50 and 70 count string lights. These lights are from PC vendors with sealed bulbs. Is there anyway to salvage a string of lights by cutting something out, bypassing something or taking two working 1/2 strings and combining. These strings are on wire frames and have not been fade cycled at all. What would be causing the failures?
    4. Sea_Gypsy
      We successfully used over 40,000 of these clips on 1/4" wireframes. it's a unique design that allows the lights to lay on their sides. Some of the edges are a bit rough but still manageable. 9000 for $45 http://www.christmaslightclips.com/christmaslightclips.htm
    5. Sea_Gypsy

      Hi Mike, For some reason your message just showed up today. Yes, we live in Macedon just off hwy 350. We had about 60,000 lights and 224 channels last year. We were amazed that everything held up really well. We added a website barnesrdlights.webs.com and some videos. They aren't the greatest quality but at least we got some shots of it this year. Please feel free to contact me [email protected] 813-494-5678

    6. ramsey14580

      SeaGypsy Are you located around the Rochester NY area? I live in Webster. I my memory serves me Surfersteve (Auburn NY) gave me your name last year. I am trying to make more Christmas light contacts in the area and I know of one other person in Fairport who has their lights sync. to music. Mike

    7. Sea_Gypsy
      Hey there we are in outskirts of Rochester on the east side. Running 60,000 lights and 224 LOR channels. We are just now building our website [email protected]
    8. Sea_Gypsy
      Hi, you have a second PM.
    9. Sea_Gypsy
      We live in the Rochester area. Definitely interested in a NY Mini
    10. Sea_Gypsy
      Checking in from Macedon, NY a suburb of Rochester on the East side. Multiple wind storms took us down this year.
    11. Sea_Gypsy
      Did you get your plugs to work? I have vampire plugs from Novelty Lighting SPT2 with 18 ga wire. I made up 500 ft of cords with not one problem. I just receive my new shipment (1000) ft of wire from Americord. It looks the same, fits the same in the plug but only 1 or 2 plugs are working on my new wire. I've taken the working ones apart and the non-working ones and there appears to be no difference. I'm looking for any ideas. I'm wondering if the insulation is thicker and I need to manually pierce the wire.
    12. Sea_Gypsy
      I'm looking for recommendations on buying standard colored flood lights. Last year I bought the Walmart brand and some didn't even work for one evening. These are the outdoor variety and will be exposed to weather since I'm in upstate NY.
    13. Sea_Gypsy

      Hi Mike, Great to meet you. I've been emailing back and forth with SurferSteve through a business contact. I'm excited to meet people who are into animated lights. My Dad and I were building leaping arches today. I know it's a bit early, but time does fly buy. I'm really glad we got going. You can email me directly at [email protected] if you want. I just happened to be on this site looking for something tonight. I live in Macedon by the way. Stephanie

    14. ramsey14580

      Sea_Gypsy, I got your name from SurferSteve in Auburn NY, he told me to drop you a line and introduce myself. I am mramsey and live in Webster, NY I also have D-light ACX16 boards (3) and have just run a 50amp sub panel out to my garage to power them. This is my 2nd year at animating my lights. I have more outlets than lights but I guess that leaves room to grow for the next couple of years. I know SurferSteve start a thread on having a wester NY mini. I am all for that I also found a guy in Rochester who is working on lights also http://t2lights.com/christmas/projects.html is his web site. Anyways thats a little about me Mike

    15. Sea_Gypsy
      I can use 140's if I can't find a smaller strand. I want touse them on a wireform train wheel so that I can animate each train car separately. The 140 set would force me to wire 2 cars together making it difficult to store also. Anyone have an idea how to do the wheels to look like they are moving. I do have another option of using a L-O-R channel to operate them
    16. Sea_Gypsy
      Hey, I'm looking for clear chasing lights in a 70 light string to do the wheels on a train wireform. Any ideas where I can find them? I'm located in Tampa, FL
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