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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.

sammyjr

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sammyjr last won the day on August 18 2015

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About sammyjr

  • Rank
    Distinguished Member

Profile Information

  • My favorite Christmas story
    When I was a child my grandfather use to dress up as Santa, walk down the block ringing this huge bell, dropping small wrapped candy canes as he walked. He would come into the house & leave presents around the tree.
  • Location
    Staten Island, New York
  • Biography
    Collects, repairs and makes animated Christmas figures
  • Interests
    Christmas, working with my hands, cooking, garden work, music, family & friends, movies - definately movies of all kinds, travel - DISNEY!
  • Occupation
    Utility worker
  • About my display
    Award winning light and animation display inside and out. I am into animation & have been buying Hamberger, Harold Gale, Creegan & similar displays & re-doing them from top to bottom - motor to body to clothing & put them on display for others to see & enjoy

Recent Profile Visitors

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  1. sammyjr
    RickeyRo, they are both Harold Gale figures.
  2. sammyjr
    Cmm1028, Send me a private message. I have a ton of Easter figures and props that i am looking to part with and sell off. Mechanical figures from Hamberger, Champion and more. Sammy
  3. sammyjr started following Warehouse Christmas Sale
  4. sammyjr
    I tried the link but it doesnt work - Interested
  5. sammyjr
    More mice!
  6. sammyjr
    .I have a copy of one of three portfolios that belonged to the head creative designer from Hamberger. She is a personal friend of mine and believe me they did more one offs and custom pieces then I think anyone realizes. I think I showed Darrid a few pics a while ago.
  7. sammyjr
    Frank I had 3. I just sold one and have another comming after the holiday but it needs work. If I'm selling it I will let you know
  8. Big J Illinois started following sammyjr
  9. sammyjr
    I have the 2 on the left
  10. sammyjr
    Just sold about 30 pieces, no more for now
  11. sammyjr
    It's the boy with roler skates from the Christmas morning set. The jack in the box was just added in. You got that figure from Ebay recently so it was most likely a figure from the Willow run display in NJ
  12. sammyjr
    He has 2 of them. The husky and a white dog too. I was supposed to buy them last month but I did not like the guys attitude on the phone. He had me on hold for 10 mins while he spoke to people in his store about nonsense. They are really nice though I have seen them in person
  13. sammyjr
    kitchenfrom build a snowman setjust a few pics of this years display. Will show more later. Am making room for a new Hamberger delivery. For next year's display. Candy cane forest and mini gnomes skiing
  14. sammyjr
    You have no idea how busy this years display has made me. Have not even started on inside, been outside everyday. Every display outside is all new & different from last years & inside will be the same - all new, mainly of figures that I have newly aquired or have restored this year so its taking a bit more time then I expected. Also am doing a Santa letter response display where kids write letters to Santa, drop them in a huge Santas mailbox that I have & Santa will write them back at some point this season. News papers are already calling but I am pusing them off till the display is done. From what I know about Darrid he is getting better but has a very long road ahead of him. I hope he focuses on getting his health back
  15. sammyjr
    a few new fluff fluffy fiends of santa just flew in. Finished a ton of figures that will be going into this year's displays. Am only going to post a few total restorations like these and will just show pics of finished displays this year
  16. sammyjr
    almost done with this workshop set picked these up in PA 2 years ago and they were busted up. Again everything from paint to fiberglass to clothes and motorsfound some time to finally get these 2 back together. New clothes, paint, fiberglass and motors all redone. Should have the rest of this set done this week.. with work, family and everything else it's hard to find the Xtra time to do this
  17. sammyjr
    found some time to finally get these 2 back together. New clothes, paint, fiberglass and motors all redone. Should have the rest of this set done this week.. with work, family and everything else it's hard to find the Xtra time to do this
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