If there is one thing that might make this Christmas season at our new farm our best yet, it is that Santa has once again come home – and now continues to carry on a decades long family tradition that dates way back to the early 1970’s!
Everyone has their favorite childhood memories of Christmas decorations. A special tree that was always lit up in your town – a breathtaking holiday light show at a local establishment – or perhaps you had a neighbor impersonating Clark Griswold attempting to light up his house with 100,000+ Christmas lights.
For me, it was a huge 8′ Santa Claus that my dad would set up in front of our barn each and every Christmas season. And believe it or not – that exact Santa still lives on today – now proudly waving to all that go by our farm during the holiday season.
Back in the early 1970’s, not long after my parents had built their new home in the country – my dad was given a sort of “housewarming gift” from one of his teachers at the elementary school where he served as a principal.
The present was a large, beautifully painted 8′ tall wooden Santa Claus with a big waving welcoming hand. Santa was made from a heavy duty 2x 4 frame and a thick 4′ x 8′ sheet of plywood. As a young 4 to 5 year old at the time – he seemed larger than life!
Santa Comes Home To The Farm – Keeping A Decades Long Family Tradition Alive
Santa’s Original “Home”
Dad found the perfect spot for Santa – right between a set of two young pine trees that he had planted in front of his barn. And each and every year after that – he would head out and set him up, placing a big spotlight in front of him to light him up for all that passed by.
Santa became sort of a landmark in our neighborhood at Christmas time. He also served as a great way to give directions to those coming to our house out in the country.
I can’t tell you how many times my parents or my brothers and sisters gave out these simple directions to someone coming out to our house during the holiday season: “just come over the hill and our house is the one on the right with the Big Santa in front of the barn.”
I also can’t tell you how many times we had to go out and fix Santa. When you live in the country, a big 8′ tall wooden Santa is not exactly a good match for winter winds. And at least twice a week we would hear the familiar “Santa’s Down” call from someone, letting my dad know it was time to head out and prop him back up!
Continuing The Tradition – Santa Comes Home To The Farm
After my father passed away in 1983 – my brother and I continued on the tradition of setting him up in front of the barn. By the mid to late 80’s, what were once two skinny 5′ pine trees on either side of Santa had grown to become two towering 60′ trees. But Santa still stood tall every Christmas – well, usually!
I remember many times when my brother and I would think we had him totally secured. And the next morning, poor Santa would be lying flat on his back. All in all, Santa always came through with flying colors. It did, however, make us realize how tough it was for dad to get him to stay up!
I think everyone of my family members have in one way or another helped continue Santa’s tradition. A few have repainted him a couple of times. And all of us have helped to set him back up at one point or another.
Santa On The Move – Santa Comes Home To The Farm
In the mid to late 2000’s, Santa spent time outside of a few of my siblings houses. All along, keeping the family tradition alive and well.
In 2011, Mary and I actually took down the old barn Santa had once stood in front of all of those years ago. We then put it back up on our first farm. And Santa made the trip as well to be-reunited with the barn once again. In the summer of 2021 when we moved to the new farm – Santa, of course, came along too.
Unfortunately, at that point – there was no barn or even a building yet at the new farm. But while we built, Santa stayed safe and sound in a storage container. Of course, just waiting for the day he would once again wave to all who passed by.
Santa Is Back!
And so it is that once again this year – Santa is back! And hopefully for a very long time at the new farm. With age does come a little wisdom. We now put Santa up and attach him to the two large barn doors in front of our house. And there, he proudly and sturdily waves to all that go by.
I have to admit, whenever we give directions to the farm to anyone in December – I almost always add “just come around the bend and our house is the one on the left with the Big Santa in front of the barn doors”.
For sure, it always puts a smile on my face. No one is happier that Santa has come home to the new farm! Merry Christmas – Jim & Mary.
Old World Garden Farms
Jim and Mary Competti have been writing gardening, DIY and recipe articles and books for over 15 years from their 46 acre Ohio farm. The two are frequent speakers on all things gardening and love to travel in their spare time.
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