Useful Information

Decorating for Christmas used to be primarily focused inside the home. We can all remember, as children, the excitement of cutting or buying a live tree, putting it into a tree stand and unpacking and installing the tree lights, garlands, tinsel, icicles, baubles, tree topper and tree skirts that completed the ritual of preparing for a family Christmas.

Some things have changed.Artificial trees, many of them pre-decorated have displaced the conventional ritual for many overstressed and time deficient parents. Christian families desiring to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas are replacing or supplementing decorated Christmas trees with Nativity displays.

Outdoor Christmas decorating used to be limited to lights on trees and a lighted plastic Santa Claus, snowman or Nativity Set. But outside the house is where some of the biggest changes have occurred. Many homeowners compete with their neighbors to create the most compelling vista on the block or in the entire suburb. These exterior decorators want to add the latest innovation in light, motion and cartoon characters in Christmas motif.

Some of the biggest and best displays have hundreds of figures and over 10,000 lights and become viewing destinations with families driving many miles, often resulting in heavy traffic and police supervision.

For those of us decorating for our own satisfaction or to meet a desire to express our Christian faith and celebrate Christmas in a simpler way, the outdoor display of a large Nativity scene meets our needs.

The use of ever larger, spot lighted Nativity Sets allow many people to put Christ back into Christmas The desire of many homeowners to present unique Christmas displays is driving greater creativity by the manufacturers. Six foot toy soldiers and nutcrackers, some lighted have added fun as well as visibility. Life size fiberglass Santa, Sleigh and reindeer, Christmas Carolers and Giant Santa and Snowmen have brought what used to be  only shopping mall and commercial displays to the home.

Christmas light displays have converted completely from incandescent C-7 and mini lights  to LED versions. The LED lights are available in warm and bright white and blue, greatly expanding the visual impact of the display.

Even indoor displays have become larger and in some cases, more life like. Near life size plush camels, donkeys and sheep with coats so real the animal might walk away. Large indoor Nativities in gorgeous fabric with resin faces and hands have created a whole new look for indoor decorating

As a child, do you remember driving around neighborhood after neighborhood, face pressed against the cool glass of the car window, your breath creating fleeting steam patterns around your nose? If you never did it, you're missing out. Don't let another child miss out on the magic of the Christmas season, and put your decorations to use for a good cause - your church programming.

Using decorative displays for commercial use or fundraising can be a little tricky if not approached correctly. First of all, resist the urge to charge too much, or opt for a "suggested donation" instead. Families of all walks of life should be able to share in the joy of the Christmas season as well as the community of your church. Embrace those who cannot pay and be thankful for those who can give, or even give more than what's expected. Show the grace and compassion that the Holy Child was born share.

Secondly, opt for charging (or asking for a donation, of course) per carload rather than per person. Light-peeping, like autumn's leaf-peeping, is something that is generally done in families or in groups. It's an activity that literally requires you to slow down and have a look around. Whether you choose a setup that people can simply drive through, or have a walking exhibit with paths through the woods, the ability to do a fun, safe group activity that encourages getting away from technology screens is a fading pastime.

Thirdly, as mentioned above, choose what kind of setup you'd like to prepare. If you have a stretch of property or large enough churchyard, get people out walking! Create paths that guide your guests to a nativity scene the way visitors came to see the Blessed Virgin and Emmanuel. Have a little fun with it, too. If you are so moved, create other areas that bring together winter animals, toy soldiers and even Santa Claus. Pay reverence to the reason for the season, but remember that not all your visitors may know your Redeemer the way you do. Show them it is possible to enjoy the silly parts of Christmastime while sharing in God's light at the same time.

Once you go through all the hard work to set up your Christmas decorations, make sure it won't be undone! A gust of wind or a nefarious prankster can easily tear down all your efforts if you don't properly anchor your décor. Here are some tips for keeping your decorations safe and secure.

First and foremost, you'll need the right equipment. Just like when pitching a tent, items like guy wires and stakes do wonders to hold large signs, inflatable decorations and anything else susceptible to wind damage. If you live in a particularly windy region, you may want to extend the same consideration to our fiberglass products as well. Lightweight, topcoat-sealed, sturdy and durable, fiberglass makes for a great material for decorations. We use it in most of our designs for larger objects like nativity statues. Take care to note any special instructions when purchasing one of these items. Our larger standing fiberglass figurines do come with mounting plates.

A good anchoring system that isn't too obstructive is rebar and rope. Using a rubber mallet, pound the rebar or other heavy-duty metal stake into the ground behind your decoration. Then attached a sturdy chain or heavy rope, preferably to a hole or opening on the back of the item. The tether will be mostly obscured by grass or snow. Alternatively, if your decoration is hollow with an open bottom, you can pound the rebar into the ground and place the statue over it. The wind may twist it around, but it will be less susceptible to completely falling over.

Another option is anchoring your decorations to heavy slabs of wood using wood bolts. You may have to drill holes into the bottom of the statue or lawn ornament, but it's better than having thieves run off with your reindeer or finding the Holy Mother damaged thanks to an unruly gust of wind.

You took the time to carefully select your outdoor décor to represent your holiday values. Don't let an oversight like improper anchoring ruin your Christmas.

If you are a small business owner, then you already know that your office is kind of an extension of your house. Long days spent there turn into nights, and before you know it, Christmastime is upon us once again. But if you're never home, you'll never see the great lights you took all Saturday to put up.

Decorating your place of business, both inside and out, is an easy way for you to enjoy the holidays even when you're at work. Your customers and clients will appreciate it, too. If you can pay special attention to lights and decorations during the holiday, then surely you can pay close attention to them and their needs.

If appropriate, go with a nativity set, but make sure it isn't too large and ostentatious. Restraint is key when decorating a business, keeping in mind that everyone may not share your practices and decorative tastes. Traditional painted statues abound, but if you want, opt for white stone statues that are reminiscent of Roman sculptures or garden art. Angels are also a popular motif that allows you to express your feelings about the season without bringing the entire Holy Family into the picture. Do note that many businesses may want to tend towards non-religious decorations though, as many patrons will be celerating holidays other than Christmas at this time of year!

So if you want stick with non-religious decor and make your business a Christmas wonderland, line the path approaching the front door with tall fiberglass candy canes. Santa Claus, elves, nutcrackers and toy soldier figures give a luster of whimsy to your business' entryway. Animals like reindeer, penguins, polar bears and more would be adorable additions to somewhere like a veterinarian's practice, or for anyone who loves animals. Imagery like angels and the Start of Bethlehem are subtle ways to slip a bit of religious imagery into your décor without going overboard (or over-sleigh, if you will.)

Keep the light of the holiday season shining bright even after office hours. Light displays and strands of twinkly bulbs can be put on a timer for passersby to enjoy, without burning all night and wasting electricity. Share your season's greetings while being a good neighbor!

On a bit of a budget or not thrilled with wasting energy? Non-electric outdoor decorations are still quite lovely and festive. Lights aren't always necessary!

When you're dealing with lights, there is so much to consider. You mustn't overload your grid and blow circuit breakers, make sure all cords are protected from moisture and take the risk of climbing a ladder, for starters. And even then, there's no guarantee that all of your lights even work. Often, one bad bulb will ruin the whole string and lead to at least an hour of frustration.

Keep in mind your monthly electric budget, too. Older light displays that don't have LED or some other energy-efficient bulb option can add a bit of a surprising uptick in electric usage costs. There's no point in struggling through that month's bill just to have a fancy holiday house. Be sensible and try out some non-electric decorations this year.

For example, a nativity scene will look right at home underneath the stars and moon. Besides firelight, there was no other way to see in the dark than by the guidance of celestial bodies back then. And before Rudolf came along, Santa Claus had no choice but to "dash away all" into the darkness, so know your reindeer will be fine without twinkle lights. Some nativity scenes will come featured with their own lighting, however, and flood lights are available for reasonable prices at any hardware store. 

You don't have to exclusively focus on the nativity or Santa Claus, either. Even simple "winter" decorations can make your season jolly. Line your driveway or walkway with tall candy canes for a sweet entry to your home. Classic sleds can be either left plain or dressed up with garlands and ornaments. Christmas bells, nutcrackers and snowmen all bring out warm holiday feelings despite their winter appearance. Don't forget there are more cold-weather critters out there than just reindeer. Throw a polar bear or penguin into the mix. No one should feel left out on Christmas Day.

As a website for serious nativity buyers, Christmas Night Inc. receives many calls from church parishioners who are members of, or the head of a committee appointed by the priest or minister or created by concerned church members, Knights of Columbus or Mens Group, to search out alternatives and make a recommendation regarding a new nativity set, manger scene or nativity scene for their church.

Many churches are finding that it is time to replace the beloved thirty, forty or fifty year old outdoor nativity set that can no longer be repaired and/or painted and set up for another Christmas. Others are deciding that a large outdoor or indoor nativity set makes a more public statement of their faith than the smaller indoor nativities that they have been displaying. Still other congregations are deciding that a beautiful, large outdoor nativity scene with the Holy Family, The Magi, the shepherd and sheep and all the other animals, spotlighted in a unique stable makes their church stand out from others in their town or village.

Whatever the reason for these folks contacting us, we suggest that they proceed as follows:

1. Visit our website www.christmasnightinc.com and note all of the various nativity sets that you feel might meet the needs of your church. As "The Ultimate Source for the Serious Nativity Buyer" Christmas Night offers a selection of medium, large, life size and giant nativity sets unmatched anywhere. These sets include Holy Families, Angels, camels, Wise men and the full array of nativity set animals including the donkey, ox (or cow) and  Shepherds and a variety of sheep.
2. Call us toll free at 888-900 2073 and discuss your list and needs with our product specialists. We will listen carefully to your thoughts and budget and we may suggest alternatives based upon our wide experience in specifying nativity scenes for all sizes of churches.
3. With your list of possible nativity sets and your mail address, we will mail you a package of full color 8 inch by 10 inch glossy photos of each of the nativity sets you requested. This package will also include the dimensions of the set and information on our shipping service and its cost.
4. This presentation package may then be used at the next meeting of your selection committee, presented to your priest or minister or reproduced and used as a central part of a fund raising campaign for the purchase of the recommended nativity set.
5. Again, our product specialists are always available during any part of this process to offer suggestions and advice.
6. Once the final choice has been made, the purchase can be completed with an order through our website shopping basket, confirmed by credit card telephone call to our order desk or a mail order accompanied by a check. In both cases the full amount of the nativity purchase and the delivery service cost must be paid in advance. Beginning in May and until we sell out of stock in early December, most items are in stock in our warehouse in Amsterdam New York (near Albany NY).  Once your order is confirmed we ship within 24 hours.
7. The large sets suitable for churches are usually quite bulky and heavy. They are shipped on wood pallets or what truckers call "skids". Most of our church size nativities are too heavy and bulky to be shipped via UPS or FedEx and therefore are shipped via LTL (less than truckload) specialized trucking companies. These truckers use trucks with a "lift gate" or small elevator platform on the back of the truck so they can lower your skids to the ground outside your delivery destination. The individual boxes containing the set may then be carried by hand indoors for inspection and storage.
8. The larger, more visible church style nativity sets are very popular and, sell out quickly. Please try to get a decision as quickly as possible ( we know how committees can be) to avoid disappointment.

In case this information sheet has not answered all of your questions, please call us at Christmas Night Inc at 888-775-0010 or 888-900-2073.