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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.

    mbelisle

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    mbelisle last won the day on April 4 2019

    mbelisle had the most liked content!

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    About mbelisle

    • Rank
      New Member
    • Birthday 05/12/1961

    Profile Information

    • My favorite Christmas story
      Christmas Vacation
    • Location
      Cold Lake Alberta Canada
    • Biography
      Family guy, been decorating since 1990
    • Interests
      Snowmobiling, Motorcycle riding
    • Occupation
      Working in the oil patch
    • About my display
      Small display, 30k lights 48 channels LOR
      Lots of hand built items
      Average outoor working temps -20 Celcius

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    1. mbelisle
      Musical sequencing can be viewed on YouTube Marty's Halloween in Cold Lake 2018
    2. mbelisle
      Short clips of some of my 2018 Christmas videos
    3. mbelisle
      110k lights, musical and static display. 28 years decorating in our community.
    4. mbelisle
      mbelisle changed their profile photo
    5. mbelisle
      Follow the YouTube link for a drone view of my display. https://youtu.be/MguXLW3Sq0A
    6. mbelisle
      One of many posted on YouTube of my 2015 display. Merry Christmas.
    7. mbelisle started following Marty's Christmas in Cold Lake, AB, CA. Nightwalk
    8. mbelisle
      Merry Christmas
    9. mbelisle
      One of my videos for this year's display, Happy Halloween 2015. https://youtu.be/w6OQvfAaDHQ
    10. Vinny the Elf started following mbelisle
    11. mbelisle
      Wow, beautiful display. Great job
    12. mbelisle
      Really cool. I just saw the new Michael Jackson cirque show in Las Vegas "one". It was truly amazing with the same technology. I am a multiple LOR controller and ccr user and I suspect the technology is RGB, Color ribbons have small controllers, can run on DC (battery) and be used with a remote transmitter. Sequence a song, choreograph and I think this could be achieved, good luck.
    13. mbelisle
      Yes microwave fuse works fine just as long as the physical properties are the same and they are the same specs. I live out in the sticks and have needed to be able to keep the show going. I always have spares handy just in case.
    14. mbelisle
      The link is exactly the type of controller I was thinking of in my design. Simple and stand alone far away from my musical animation display. The effect I was trying to achieve is a 12 stage 1 deer running / leaping. I am not sure if I could coordinate 3 x 4 channel controllers to create this effect? Worst case I could use 1 controller and have 3 deer leaping with the same timing or just add another LOR controller which will give me even more options for future design changes. Thanks for the advice guys.
    15. mbelisle
      Thanks Clyde and gmac for the advice and options.
    16. mbelisle
      Plan to use incandescent rope. Got a great deal on 12ft lengths post Christmas sale. You may be on to something as I have a 8 sequence rope controller that I will disassemble and tap into to see what I can come up with. Thanks I didn't think about that option.
    17. mbelisle
      I am looking to add a 12 deer leaping sequence to my back fence and was wondering if someone might know of a simple standalone controller that would run 12 channels in an on off loop to look like my deer is running on top the fence. I would prefer not to commit 12 channels of one of my LOR controllers. Any ideas would be appreciated, thanks.
    18. mbelisle
      I am looking to add a 12 deer leaping sequence to my back fence and was wondering if someone might know of a simple standalone controller that would run 12 channels in an on off loop to look like my deer is running on top the fence. I would prefer not to commit 12 channels of one of my LOR controllers. Any ideas would be appreciated, thanks.
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