Is it too early to deck the halls? These Western Pennsylvanians say no!
Move over, pumpkins. Step aside, turkeys. Make way for all things Christmas.
The Fulgenzio family of Hempfield uses Halloween as the kickoff day for their annual holiday tradition of decorating their home for Christmas.
“I’m one of those Christmas-obsessed people,” Daniel Fulgenzio said. “I took the Halloween decor down on Halloween night to prep.”
Fulgenzio and his wife, Camilla, both 32, always decorate the day after Halloween.
The couple are motivated in part by the enthusiasm shown by their 3-year-old son, Enzo.
“He loves it, and so do we. We’re already lit up and all,” Fulgenzio said.
By the end of Nov. 1, an outdoor snowmen display and giant inflatable Santa were stationed in the Fulgenzios’ yard and holiday lights were shining brightly on the front lawn — alongside Halloween decorations in their neighbors’ front lawns.
“Our friends, family and neighbors all think we’re crazy for decorating early, but we don’t care,” Fulgenzio said. “Our favorite tree is the living room tree, as it’s the focal point.”
Inside their home, they have two Christmas trees.
“Research has shown that those who decorate their home on the outside are perceived as more sociable than others,” said licensed therapist Amy Halter of Hyde Park.
Additionally, she said research shows decorating early for Christmas can boost one’s mood and spirits.
“Decorating early can be a distraction from things going on in the world,” said Halter, who has a private practice in Leechburg. “Many people decorate for the memories of Christmas/holidays, or it reminds them of their childhood. It allows people to have some feelings of control, what they choose to do and how they choose to decorate.”
While most of America is focused on Halloween costumes and candy on Halloween, Jordan Oskey of Avonmore also shifts her focus to all things Santa.
“I put my trees up on Halloween,” Oskey said.
An inflatable Halloween decoration adorns the front lawn. But inside Oskey’s home, the stockings are hung on the stairs, a jovial Santa stares back at visitors, and Christmas decorations and lights fill the two-story home.
“I like the way it makes me feel. I like to feel cozy and sit down in the evening and just look at the pretty lights,” said Oskey, 29, a homemaker. “My mom did go all out for Christmas, so it’s probably a little bit of that.”
She likes to mix up her designs each season for the three trees she has on display, two inside the home and one on the front porch.
“I like to decorate the trees with my mom,” said 10-year-old Eli Oskey.
Eli, a Kiski Area student, noted his friends definitely have opinions when he tells them Christmas is represented very early at his home.
“They think I’m crazy for doing it. I tell them ‘No, I’m not,’ ” said Eli, adding he enjoys the extra festive time because his birthday falls eight days before Christmas.
Halter described the decision of some folks to decorate early as a personal choice.
“In my work, I’m always talking about thoughts, feelings and behaviors. If decorating early brings someone positive thoughts, makes them feel happy, then why not?”
Eli’s friend, Payton Clever, 12, said seeing Yuletide decorations appearing early at his house is “cool, but crazy.”
Payton chimed in that she feels an appropriate time to decorate is after Thanksgiving.
Jordan Oskey’s aunt, Lori McMeekin of Avonmore, stopped by Nov. 1 to see the Christmas decorations.
McMeekin described her niece’s decorating decision as “nuts.”
“I think you should wait until one holiday is over until you start in with another,” McMeekin said.
When asked how her fiance, Gunny Bertelle, feels about her early-bird Christmas decor, Jordan Oskey said, “He says it’s OK because it makes me happy, but he’s not happy about it.”
In an effort to give a nod to Thanksgiving, Oskey displays a turkey decoration on her porch.
The family takes down all of their decorations the day after Christmas.
“I organize it all for next year,” Oskey said.
Leslie and Joe Brasile of Latrobe call their early holiday decorating “Christmas crazy.”
“We decided we wanted to start a new family tradition that wasn’t the norm,” Joe Brasile said.
The couple married on Nov. 4, 2011. Their new family included blending children from both of their previous marriages. They began combining Christmas decorations with Thanksgiving and New Year’s 12 years ago.
They decorate by Nov. 1, displaying 15 trees ranging in size from 3 to 9 feet.
“We love Christmas and enjoy decorating,” said Leslie Brasile, 50.
The Brasiles get mixed reactions from people over their early holiday combo decor, but the couple said they enjoy the holidays so much that they want them to last.
“Some people absolutely love it, and some people think we’re out there,” Joe Brasile said. “We do it because it makes us happy and puts you in a great mood as soon as you walk into the house.”
The Brasiles offer their extra-festive home as a holiday stop-over spot for friends and family and serve hot chocolate or coffee.
Tree themes run the gamut from red trucks to patriotic to snowmen.
“My favorite this year is definitely the Grinch, only because our three grandsons love the Grinch,” Leslie Brasile said.
Additionally, Joe sets up his outdoor holiday lighted display early, but this season his display will have to be downsized as he recovers from knee and back surgery.
“We love this time of year and honestly believe people are nicer during the holidays. But to be honest, we do it for us — and if someone else enjoys it, then that’s fantastic,” Joe Brasile said.
AnnaMarie Cricks of Allegheny Township brings the early-bird excitement with her Christmas decorating.
Cricks, 65, likes to channel her inner Hallmark movie enjoyment and puts her Christmas tree up early, on Veterans Day, every season.
“Family and friends love how I decorate my living room and fireplace. Christmas is my favorite holiday. I love sitting in a dark room with the tree lit,” Cricks said.
Cricks always hides a Christmas pickle in the tree, and her grandson, Cooper, searches for it.
“Watching it through a child’s eyes is something I look forward to,” Cricks said.
“She absolutely loves Christmas and gets so excited to decorate,” said her daughter, Jenn Petrilla.
Growing up in rural Indiana County, the “Christmas Tree Capital of the World,” apparently made a lasting impression on Fox Chapel resident Cami Fuhrer.
Large family Christmas gatherings at her grandparents’ house, complete with Polish food and Christmas traditions, were holiday staples for Fuhrer.
“I have the fondest memories of these times and like to create those memories with my children and friends,” Fuhrer said.
Setting up Christmas decorations is a tradition for Fuhrer. Before downsizing to a town home, she displayed five Christmas trees annually.
“I would go all out, where it looked like a Hallmark show,” Fuhrer said. “People are always shocked when I decorate early, but I like to prolong that amazing feeling of Christmas longer than just a month. My kids love to walk in and see Christmas everywhere in our home, which makes them happy.”
Joyce Hanz is a native of Charleston, S.C. and is a features reporter covering the Pittsburgh region. She majored in media arts and graduated from the University of South Carolina. She can be reached at jhanz@triblive.com
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