NORTH BRUNSWICK — Resident Lorraine Gagliano enjoys decorating her house for the holidays every year and tries to make it look more and more festive.
"When I was a child in Brooklyn, N.Y., my mother used to take us to the stores and I would see how decorative they were, and how it was just like a winter wonderland," Gagliano said. "I always said that I wanted to make my very own house into a winter wonderland. It is something that I really enjoy doing every year."
Gagliano said that the amount of decorations seems to grow every year.
"Each year, I just keep adding more items and I find myself adding and collecting," Gagliano said. "It just keeps enlarging and you incorporate different things."
Each room has a special design helping the house look very festive, according to Gagliano.
"I have snow figures in the living room. The figures are very modest," Gagliano said. "The downstairs is very traditional with 15-foot miniature Christmas scenes. My bedroom is filled with Barbie angels. Every room has a different thing. I love having people over to look over the variety of different designs."
Gagliano said that the house grows with more decorative designs each year.
"The downstairs is loaded with pictures," Gagliano said. "I add more every year. I can’t help it. I see something and I put it into the house. Every little bit makes it more enjoyable."
The outside decorations are modest compared to the ones inside because Gagliano likes neighbors to get an idea of what is on the inside.
"The outside is all blue lights," Gagliano said. "The lights are setting the scene for the inside. You can see the tree, it’s like an invitation. I want to sneak up on people and watch them fall in love with what is in the window."
Many people enjoy visiting her and looking at the decorations, she said.
"This is not for Democrats or Republicans, this is a time for togetherness," Gagliano said. "I have been with the Italian American Club for the last seven years and I’ve been with the Democratic Party for the last 30 years. However, I do have friends who are Republicans. I also have both Jewish and Catholic women who enjoy the decorations and spend Christmas at my house."
Gagliano said that she gets excited to decorate her house every year.
"I do it by myself," she said. "I begin the work in the middle of September. It takes a long time to put together and I want to enjoy the finished product for myself before everyone gets to see it. I usually finish the work around early December."
The most enjoyment comes from having the family over to enjoy the decorations and take part in the holiday festivities, according to Gagliano.
"On Christmas Eve, I have 30 people come over to enjoy the decorations," Gagliano said. "I feel very exhausted by Christmas night, after everyone has left. This year is a special year, considering all the tragedy that has happened. People have a special feeling during the holidays, but this year there is more of a sense of brotherhood."
Gagliano also enjoys looking at other decorations in the area.
"I get in the car around Christmas and look at the other decorations," Gagliano said. "I like to change mine every year. The theme stays the same, but the rooms change. I always project toward the next year.
"It is faster taking the decorations down than it is to put them up, because when you put them up you play around a little. It takes me two weeks to get them all down and marked."
Gagliano’s house has a variety of different decorations including animated dolls, angles, carolers, Christmas trees, and Snow Babies. There is also an entire room of snow. The den has a large white revolving tree, hanging mirrors and large ornaments suspended from the ceiling. There is a large sled loaded with gifts and pulled by a reindeer.
Her dining room is designed in gold and black with little Christmas dolls accompanied by huge lights. The bedroom has a large tree decorated with Barbie dolls. Her bed is even part of the decoration and is gift wrapped like a Christmas present. The bathrooms are decorated with trees and garlands. The basement has 15 feet of miniature Christmas scenes, two large trees, a smaller candy-cane tree, a family tree, 21 Christmas stockings, a snowman display and a special visiting wall where guests can write greetings and memories.
During the warmer seasons, Gagliano said she tries to make her home an enjoyable place for her grandchildren.
"I have a beautiful back yard and I have 10 grandchildren," Gagliano said. "I have basketball and video games for the children to enjoy. I think it is important to try to keep close with everyone. It is definitely a little more quiet after the Christmas season."