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  • 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.

    TheBigE

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    About TheBigE

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    • Location
      Lafayette, Indiana
    • Occupation
      Engineer
    1. TheBigE
      I will be in CT for part of the Holidays, and would love to see some displays. Is there a list anywhere of the Displays. I will be near the Oakdale region, but would travel to see some slights. Thanks Erik
    2. TheBigE
      All, So my Display is on hold for three years as I took an overseas assignment for my company. Pretty good deal and great living in europe for a couple of years. Now that being said, I am continuing to plan my display for when I return to the states, this will include at least three new Mega Trees and LED lights across the board. Obviously this will be a sizable investment, but was thinking of spreading it over three years and take part in the CDI Presales. For example this year, I would purchase the LEDS required for the Mega Trees and controllers, next year the LEDS needed for the
    3. TheBigE
      All, Well I had big plans this year for Christmas Lights at home in Indiana for 2010, but life always sends a curve ball and I have an opportunity to move to Geneva Switzerland for 3 years and then back to the States. Hard to turn down, but now I need to know what I should do with all my equipment that I have purchased over the last year. I have 3 LOR controllers all 110V - I believe I can convert these to 220 Volt. Not sure if I I can just convert the two main power cords and leave the individual channel cords alone. Also I have a role of SPT C9 cord with LED retro lights and a to
    4. TheBigE
      I would be in for a Meet and Greet on Friday the 9th, again time and location dependent. Keep me posted.
    5. TheBigE
      Gary - Great thanks for the picture. It really helped explain the concept. I assume that lengths of the J-Channel will fit most windows or do you have to splice a couple of pieces together? Of to HD I go to buy some J Channel
    6. TheBigE
      Gary - Thanks...the pictures would be very helpful.
    7. TheBigE
      Gary - How do you join the corners of the J-channel? I can't really tell from the pics on your website. Looks to me like some fancy cutting and pop rivets. Thanks Erik
    8. TheBigE
      How do you do the corners? From the pictures I can't really tell? Looks like there is some fancy cutting and Pop Rivets. Thanks Erik
    9. TheBigE
      Going to C9 retros, so that is why I went ahead and order the Spool through CDI during the Appreciation Sale. This way I can make up my custom lengths and do the lights around the windows like I want, also needed to goto LED just to cut down on the current draw as you say. No worries this year...hopefully.
    10. TheBigE
      All, Just looking for some opinions. I am considering purchasing a 500' spool of C9 socket cord. Currently I have several strands of C9 that I have used in the past on INCAD lights. Is there any reason that I could not use my existing C9 cord and make the lengths that I need? Or is there any other advantages to buying a large spool? Just looking for some insight. Thanks Erik
    11. TheBigE
      Great news. but a few questions: 1. Does the 20% off include everything on the website? (Zip Cord, LEDs, non sale items) 2. The 20% off of what price? Website? Product Catalog? Estimated In Season Pricing on Pre Sale Sheet? Specifically, I am looking at M5 lights. I see a pricing in your Product Catalog lines up well with the website, but your estimated "in season" pricing on your pre sale sheet is different? Is this a different brand? May just need to call to get the answers. Thanks Erik
    12. TheBigE
      All, Just wanted to provide some feedback to the forum based on my decision from this thread. I choose to purchase LSP and have been working with the program off and on for about a month. I wanted to share some of my insight as a newbie sequencing in LSP. A little bit of background, in 2009 I downloaded all my sequences and used the basic LOR S2 for scheduling and running the show, I did not do any of my own sequencing. In addition, I am currently running LSP on a iMac through Parallels (more to follow on this), but my show computer is a PC. My main driving factor for selecting
    13. TheBigE

      Funny How....

      TheBigE posted a topic in Newbies!

      All, Since I really only started in the "Blinky Light Club" (my wife's terminology) in Nov 09, I was looking back over the last 6 months and was realizing how funny it is that a small idea can quickly morph into some grand plan. For example: 1, I started with 16 channels and animated my static display, and it is quickly growing towards the 80 channel mark in a year. I don't this is too uncommon. 2. Mini Trees - I wanted to add some. Looked at tomato cages, then found coro trees...oh wait now I can have two colors per tree... okay go with 8 tree at two colors...and need 16 channe
    14. TheBigE
      PM Sent has been sent.....
    15. TheBigE

      2010 planning?

      TheBigE replied to ryanshow's topic in Lights

      Add Leaping Arches and CORO trees....yeah I know not super secret here on PC. But for my neighborhood a it is truly "skunk works/area 51" type of stuff. Think I may add a retinal scanner device to my garage for my neighbors when I start to build everything this summer.....
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