Lighting up the sky

For most of us, Christmas isn’t Christmas without strings of bright lights adorning the houses and trees of our neighborhood blocks and city streets. No matter how tasteful or tacky, there’s magic in those holiday lights. Georja Skinner thoughtfully tells the story of how this decorating tradition got started in her charming and heartwarming The Christmas House: How One Man’s Dream Changed the Way We Celebrate Christmas. Skinner introduces her father, George Skinner, who was stricken with polio in his early 20s and told he would never walk again. Determined to overcome his disease, Skinner thought back to his fond memories of the Christmas season and vowed that once he regained his strength, he would make Christmas memorable for every person in his town, despite the Great Depression sweeping the nation. Thus, the Christmas House was born. Skinner and his father spent months decorating the inside and outside of their Los Angeles home with beautiful lights, artificial snow and garland, and their Christmas spectacle became a legend, attracting 80,000 people each year and receiving national media attention. The Christmas House is the story of dreams come true, triumph over adversity and the true meaning of the holiday season. To make it even more special, Skinner’s book is leather bound, with lovely family photos throughout: a gift to be treasured.