Holiday traditions light up your fall and winter

The shorter days and chill in the air signal that the holiday season, with varied holiday traditions, is right around the corner. Here at Paradise Lawns, we are transitioning from organic lawn care to exterior holiday lighting. It’s a nice time to pause and  think about how each holiday is unique, just like our customers.  

October

Omaha weather in October is sunny and warm one day – rainy and cold the next. Luckily, we usually avoid snow accumulation, even though it isn’t uncommon to see a flurry or two before the end of the month. This is the perfect time to finish up lawn care maintenance and put up exterior holiday lighting. If you don’t enjoy putting up lights, give us a call. We offer a variety of holiday lighting services.  

Halloween is the big holiday observed in October. Current traditions have ties to the ancient Celtic festival known as Samhain, but the holiday name itself has a Christian connection. In the eighth century, the Roman Catholic Church declared November 1st as “All Saints Day” making October 31st “All Hallows Eve” or “Halloween.” 

Today, costumes and candy take center stage. Because the weather can be unpredictable in the Midwest, parties and indoor events are popular. A trip to Vala’s Pumpkin Patch on a warm autumn weekend makes for great photo opportunities and fall memories. For many though, the thrill of going trick-or-treating is what this holiday is all about. Costumed kids run door-to-door to receive handfuls of fun size candy.

Tradition holds that if a porch light is on, there will be a treat on the other side. However, with increased use of timers and automatic exterior light settings, this isn’t always the case. Sometimes the neighbor isn’t home. Other times they may be home but caught unaware and unprepared. That’s when things get interesting. Toothbrushes, cans of soda, fruit and even loose change may be dispersed by frazzled homeowners in this situation. It seems that any domestic household item is fair game when trick-or-treaters show up unexpectedly. 

Has this ever happened to you? 

November

The second Monday in November is Veterans Day. Paradise Lawns salutes and thanks those that serve our country.  This feeling of thankfulness continues to Thanksgiving. School children are taught about the first Thanksgiving in 1623 when Pilgrims and Native Americans shared a meal together. In this spirit, we gather with friends and family to eat and give thanks.  Turkey is typically the main dish with pumpkin pie for dessert. Side dishes are where families vary. A quick internet search shows a Food Network listing of 100+ Classic Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes. What does your family like to serve on Thanksgiving day?

After the meal, many settle in for naps and football. After that it is either an early night to bed for early morning Black Friday shopping or heading out that evening to  take advantage of Thanksgiving eve sales. If you don’t enjoy shopping, venture downtown to enjoy the beauty of the Holiday Lights Festival. This downtown Omaha event has been going on for 20 years. It is a way to end Thanksgiving and begin celebrating the weeks leading to Christmas.  Thanksgiving night is also when many homeowners light their exterior holiday lights for the first time during the season. If you want help with making  your home feel more festive, check out our holiday lighting services. 

December

Depending on your religious belief and cultural traditions, there are several holidays celebrated in December – Christmas, Hanukah and Kwanzaa to name a few. December is the darkest time of the year with the Winter Solstice on December 21st marking the shortest day of the year.  The good news is that once we pass the 21st, the days begin to lengthen a little each day until we reach the longest day of the year – Summer Solstice on June 20th. 

Although, as lawn care professionals, we favor warmth and sunshine, we love seeing all of our homes and businesses illuminated with cheerful holiday lights during the darkest, cold months. In fact, most holidays celebrated in December have a connection with illumination. Christians share that the birthplace of Jesus was marked with a bright star for the wise men to find their way. Hanukah is called “the festival of lights” and celebrates the wicks of the menorah miraculously burning for eight days, even though there was only enough sacred oil for one day. Kwanzaa is a modern holiday that celebrates African heritage and African-American culture. Seven candles known as “Mishumaa Saba” are symbolic of the Seven Principles that African people are urged to live by. 

January and Beyond

Happy New Year! Even though the busiest part of winter ends in January, there are still holidays to observe such as Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Valentine’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day. Some pack up decorations immediately after the December holidays, others choose to wait until later in January. Typically the coldest time of the year, it is easy to experience winter blues and long for the return of warm weather during this time. Do you enjoy keeping your exterior holiday lights up a bit longer or do you prefer to have them packed and put away promptly in January? Paradise Lawns offers exterior holiday light removal and storage, so you won’t have to worry about climbing up to retrieve decorations in the cold. 

Just as winter feels like it is here to stay, little by little, the temperature will begin to warm; snow will melt; and signs of spring will return to the Omaha metro area. When the grass reveals itself once again, we will be there to help you prepare your lawn for the warm weather season. In the meantime, we hope  you enjoy each holiday in your own unique way and we’d love to hear more about your family traditions during the holidays, Find us on social media and share your stories. 

If we can help you with your exterior holiday lighting, please let us know. Call Dave at 402-612-1527 to learn more about our services. Otherwise, when you dream of the return of warm weather,  contact us to learn more about our spring lawn care recommendations. 

However you celebrate, happy holidays from Paradise Lawns!