Family Told to Take Down Early Xmas Decorations

Neighbors put up theirs in solidarity
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 15, 2019 2:08 AM CST
Family Told to Take Down Early Xmas Decorations
"I’m pregnant. And it took us forever to put them up," Claudia Simonis says.   (Getty Images/peterspiro)

San Antonio mother Claudia Simonis is eight months pregnant—with a Dec. 25 due date—so the family decided to put out their Christmas decorations a little early this year. "I feel kind of heavy, so the earlier we can put out the decorations, the better. Because probably in two more weeks, I’m not going to be able to build all this," she says. But after an inflatable snowman and other items went up Nov. 1, the family received a letter from their subdivision's homeowners association ordering them to remove the festive decorations until closer to the holiday season, People reports. "Maintenance—Holiday Decorations Need To Be Removed," the notice said.

Simonis and her husband, Nick, say their two sons, ages three and five, are enjoying the display and they're not going to un-deck the halls. "If anything, we’re adding more stuff," Claudia Simonis says. They note that the letter states that decorations should be taken down 10 days after the end of a holiday but does not say when the holiday season begins. Some of their neighbors have been putting their own decorations up early to show solidarity. "We always abide by the rules and regulations," neighbor Charles Minton tells WOAI. "So, when we see it in black and white, there's no problem. But if it's not in black and white, who's to say what's what?" (This Ohio man was ordered to take down his "Zombie Nativity" scene.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X