It’s been a sad few weeks around here – horrible tragedies in the news, and my Aunt’s passing in the season she loved most. I needed something to remind me of the Joys in this world, and Christmas time for me is usually abundant. My cousin posted about a house in New Britain.. the Christmas House… and I knew I had to go. My daughter accompanied me, with pasta and canned goods in hand for admission… see story exerpts, taken from last years Hartford Courant article, below…
“Rita Giancola started putting up Christmas decorations in October. Transforming eight rooms, a hallway, a stairway and the front lawn into the region’s biggest Christmas shrine takes time. It’s a labor that Giancola has been doing every year since 1978, and it’s a tradition that she’s determined to keep going. “I’m never going to retire,” the 87-year-old great-grandmother said. “If I’m 90, I’ll still be doing this.”
Giancola’s rambling Lexington Street house is a landmark for generations of families who show up to see hundreds of Santas, Nativity scenes, plastic snowmen, red-and-green elves — all lit up by thousands upon thousands of holiday lights. The first floor of Giancola’s century-old, three-family house is covered floor-to-ceiling with Christmas décor, dancing angels, mechanical Santa models, ribbons, tinsel, bows and seemingly endless strands of garland.
To get the full tour inside, bring along some nonperishable food donations. Giancola runs an open house for five nights every December to benefit the Prudence Crandall shelter and the local Salvation Army, filling cartons with canned soups, pastas, cereals, paper towels, cleaning supplies and similar items.
She’s lived in the house across from the New Britain Museum of American Art for more than a half century, and recalls that she decorated all the first-floor rooms every year. In 1978, she started the open house and has kept it up ever since. It’s been the topic of a New York Times feature and TV news reports over the years, but Giancola still frets about the chances of few people — and fewer donations.
“The children’s eyes go everywhere. The grandparents are almost crying with joy,” she said. “People come through and say ‘My parents brought me when I was little’ and now they’re bringing their own children.”
Giancola’s children and grandchildren pitch in decorating the more difficult-to-reach spots, but she figures she still does about 90 percent of the work herself.
“I’m up and down ladders all days,” she said, “and this year I didn’t decorate the second bathroom. I
got lazy.”
Looks fun k !!! I'm glad you had such a great time !!!!
OH MY GOSH! How awesome. She would need another house to store stuff after Christmas. How depressing would your house be after the holidays too.
Thanks for sharing, I wish it was in driving distance.
That is just amazing…I keep going back to look again and again! It would be a dream to walk through that house! And would definitely put you in the Christmas spirit! WOW! Merry Christmas!
What a special lady. I love the Santa sitting with his boots off. I'm glad you had a nice day with your daughter and felt some of the Christmas spirit. xo
Wish I lived closer and could visit this amazing house.
Clearly the spirit of Christmas resides here.
Merry Christmas.
What a wonderful tradition 🙂 We have a lady in town who has one room decorated in her big old house all year long. It looks a lot like your pictures…even in July :p
I know what you mean about trying to find Christmas this year. Praying for peace, love and joy every single day 🙂
what an adorable person she is. I wonder where she sleeps? LOL
I am wondering if she rents a space to store all those decorations! What a fun generous spirit this lady has! I LOVE Christmas lights–and not always JUST the tasteful, elegant ones! This would have been my Christmas dream as a child!
Karen,
Bless your family for the loss of a most beloved family member. Finding peace and joy this time of year, given what has happened in Connecticut too, seems daunting. I find during times where celebrating seems arduous that giving to others and being present and loving in my interactions is salve for my soul. The Christmas House seems to embody the seasons spirit. Wishing you and your family a blessed Christmas and health and happiness in 2013.
Donna.
what a wonderful soul. and serving such a great purpose – both in feeding the hearts and the bodies of those who need it.
OH MY GOODNESS GRACIOUS! I would say that would cure whatever ailed ya. SO sorry that the season has been rough on you – (hugs). Merry Christmas Karen…to you and yours – thanks so much for all of the support, encouragement and kindess you've shown me this year.
I can't even imagine doing all that and at 87, no less! How in the world do they get up those stairs with all the decorations?
I'd like to have just a little, of what she's got a whole lot of!
What a story ! I am just amazed! She is certainly a Christmas angel of some sort….:)
Her daughter told me they store the decorations in the basement, attic, and a six-bay carport. It was great to see how the family enjoyed the visitors too!
First of all I am so sorry to read about the loss of your Aunt Virginia. And if anything were going to put a little Merry in my Christmas- this would do it! Wow! What a magical feast for the eyes- hard to even take it all in. Thank you for sharing with us- so glad it gave you some cheer 🙂
Karen- What a fun pick-me-up after all the sadness of the past few weeks. Isn't it wonderful to see how someone pours so much love into something? What a gift to others- xo Diana
I'm very sad about your aunt. I know you must miss her.
Sometimes we just need to get out of the house and get some Christmas cheer and that seems to be exactly what you've found in this beautifully decorated house.
Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas and the happiest of new years Karen.
Sam
Oh how fabulous! This should be a Hallmark movie! In Richmond, Va they have a "Tacky House Tour" and it's very popular…I enjoy seeing the wildly decorated houses…it's such an uplifting gift that others give.
Wow… that's something! Glad it helped to bring your spirit back.
Merry Christmas!
Oh my goodness! I sure wish we had something like that around here!! Each year we used to go to Sonnenberg Mansion which was all decked out for Christmas…but then the TREASURER embezzled all the money and they don't do it anymore! I love these pictures and think that woman is very, very special!! It would be cool if one of her kids took it over when she's gone…