Nominate your favorite 'Holiday Brites' on The Murfreesboro Post

Sidebar Ads

Nominate your favorite 'Holiday Brites'

Related Articles

Former ‘Holiday Brite’ house gives back to Angel Tree

Holiday Brites: Christmas is finally here

The 'Kids' blow H-haid's decorations away

Hey, hey ho! Holiday Brite seeking we go

Here’s your chance to share your family’s holiday traditions

City says 'Bah, humbug' to flying Santa

By: Lisa Marchesoni

Posted: Sunday, November 30, 2008 7:19 am

Nominate your favorite 'Holiday Brites' | HOLIDAY BRITES

TMP Photo by Kelly Hite. Just call Sean Florian, 'Clark Griswold Jr.'

Just call Sean Florian “Clark Griswold Jr.,” the star of National Lampoon’s “Christmas Vacation” movie.

Florian, who lives at 1134 Mantle Way in Walter Hill, uses 25,000 lights to elaborately decorate his home for Christmas, ironically, the same number of lights Griswold lit in the movie. Because of the similarities between Florian and the Chevy Chase character, his wife, Tiffini, nicknamed him “Clark Griswold.”

“As soon as you turn onto Mantle Way, you can’t miss it,” Florian said with pride in his voice. “It will be the only house glowing.”

This year, Florian wants visitors viewing his spectacular display to donate to Special Kids, Inc. in a box near his mailbox.

“I have a 4-year-old niece in Special Kids,” Florian explained. When she first started, she clung to her father and didn’t want to interact with anyone.

“They’ve helped her learn,” Florian said of his niece. “Now, she wants to play with her cousins. She’s a little more confident, more outgoing.”

Noel Davis, director of annual investments for Special Kids, said she’s glad the agency can help Florian’s niece.

“We love just to see the difference we make in each child,” Davis said.

Special Kids is a Christian, non-profit agency providing therapeutic rehabilitation and skilled nursing to children with special needs.

Noel thinks Florian’s goal to collect funds for Special Kids is a “completely wonderful idea, especially this time of year when we celebrate the birth of Christ, for him to find a way to incorporate this in our Christmas.”

Florian intends to make his display worthy of donations. He begins planning the next year’s display when he takes down the lights each year after Christmas. Since Halloween, he’s spent 60 to 70 hours preparing the 2008 display with 25,000 flashing lights.

“I have a lot of red, white and blue in my display because my wife has cousins in the military,” Florian explained. Three sides of his house are decorated each in red, white and blue. American flags fly from the sled.

A Chrismas music box plays about 20 different songs.

“The house dances with the music,” Florian said, explaining, “The lights will dance and go on and off to the music.”

For example, when the chorus of “Jingle Bells” plays, the red, green and white lights on the roof will turn on and off in time to the music.

His Christmas decorations include Florian’s own four homemade reindeer to represent himself, his wife, and their two daughters, Sydney, 11, and Tasha, 3. Wooden dalmatians represent his nieces and nephews.

The display debuted at 5:30 p.m. Friday after Thanksgiving. Because of high electric costs, he only plans to showcase the display from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. only each Friday and Saturday nights through Christmas.

In these challenging economic times, Florian remains thankful he has a job at Wilson Trucking in Lebanon and a family who puts up with him. He hopes people will show their thanks too by giving to Special Kids.

Submitting your nominations and suggestions for Holiday Brites is easy. You can email them to online@murfreesboropost.com or post them at the end of this Holiday Brites story.

Tagged under HOLIDAY BRITES

Member Opinions:

By: My3dancers on 11/30/08
YOU NEED TO SEE THE TASTEFUL WONDERFUL LIGHT DISPLAY AT 392 Abbie Road, Murfreesboro - Across from Barfield Elementary. I know these others put up probably more lights - - but if we were going on the prestige award....check this one out !!! ALL RED & WHITE, Just Beautiful. Our kids love going by this house at 392 Abbie Road.

By: mikewest on 11/30/08
Thank you My3dancers...that is a great suggestion and always one of the brightest in town!

By: Mimi on 12/1/08
I appreciated the looks on my grandchildren's faces when they saw the Florian display. The fact that this Family is using this as an opportunity to support a local and vitally important organization to our community in these economically difficult time is also very impressive. It is a beautiful display.

By: appdancer on 12/6/08
I nominate the home of Pat Casey-Daly, 113 South Highland. I always enjoy it very much!

steve cates

By: justawalkn on 12/6/08
Even though they dont have lights outside you should check out City Limits Liquor on NW Broad Street. They have the inside of the store looking so great. I know that Gary, Linda, Chris and Amy have worked very hard to make the store look so great. Go check them out.