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SUMMERFIELD, N.C. — The holidays are a time to gather and celebrate with family and friends. For some, annual holiday traditions have a deeper meaning, especially after loved ones pass away.
“This is the accumulation of several years of just loving this hobby, and I enjoy sharing the spirit with others,” said Sterling Nix, a Summerfield resident.
Sterling Nix moved to Summerfield from Florida with his family in 2019. He has helped put up Christmas decorations at his family’s home each year since he was a young boy. It started out as a fun, annual chore with his mom.
“When I was young, I was obsessed with things that plugged in as a baby,” said Nix. “My mom always told me that I was getting into the lamps and stuff, just walking around, plugging them in and unplugging them, so I guess it’s just kind of a natural connection.”
Things took a turn in March 2023 when Nix’s mom, Beth, passed away from heart failure.
“Inside [our home] we don’t have nearly as many decorations as we did before, because I was always the outside person and he would take care of the inside,” said Nix. “There’s always a spot missing.”
Each year since, Nix has carried on the family tradition. He says his mom’s favorite part was the nativity scene because it helped share the true meaning behind the holiday.
“You can easily get lost in all the commercial aspects,” said Nix.
Nix says it takes nearly a month to set everything up. The display includes dozens of inflatables, lights and other festive decor including rare or hard-to-find items.
“I haven’t seen them in a while,” said Nix. “I plug them up and I’m like, dang, I forgot how big these things were.”
When cars pass by to look at the display, Nix feels joy knowing that his work is appreciated by many and hopes they’ll take away something from it.
“You don’t have to lose the magic of Christmas as you get older,” said Nix. “You can always look at the things that brought you joy. They don’t have to stop bringing you joy.”
All while remembering his mother.
“She loved bringing people joy, so this is what she would have loved,” said Nix. “She’d probably think it’s a little insane with the amount I’ve gone, but she’d love it.”
Nix says power and wind can be the most challenging aspects when it comes to managing the display. He also sets up decorations for Halloween. He plans to buy more Christmas decor in the coming months and hopes to have a bigger display next year.
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Zach Tucker
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