taken down from Halloween. During their spare time they continue decorating until Thanksgiving. Anything not put up by Thanksgiving stays put away. The lights are on from the night before Thanksgiving until New Year’s Day. They get turned off nightly with the exception of Christmas Eve. Then a more important rule is put into place. Lights in the house are kept to a minimum because the Andersons want people passing by to see the Christmas decor lit up. “Without the extra lights, it’s relaxing, too,” Irene said. Irene’s most recent idea that hasn’t happened yet is to add speakers to the display so music can be heard outside, too. The Andersons invite anyone to drive by their holiday wonderland at 22903 790th Ave. in Albert Lea.
decor from several places. Some items they make, like a scene of two snowmen throwing a snowball between them, and others are given as presents, picked up at major retailers or found at auctions. Over time, the Andersons have become more efficient in decorating. Several of the Department 56 buildings are on display all year long on a shelving unit that Gene built specifically for them. On the back of the shelves are mirrors that give the illusion that there is another street behind the buildings. When the couple had an electrician at the house, they had him wire the shelving unit to a light switch so with one flick of a finger the whole village could be turned on. The little buildings became a huge part of the Andersons’ collection because as a young girl, Irene loved looking at them and how much detail each one had.
Where does the display come from?
More traditions
The Andersons get their Christmas
Another tradition that’s part of the Andersons’ Christmas celebration is
making lefse and baking other treats like pies. Gene’s mother, Arvilla Anderson, taught Irene how to make lefse. Arvilla was known to make about 90 dozen just at Thanksgiving and another 100 dozen at Christmas. Now, Gene and Irene and their children make about 20 dozen to give out to family and friends. And there is hardly anything that will keep the family from making lefse. One year, Arvilla had a broken arm and a cast put on. Against doctor’s orders, she rolled out lefse for the holidays. When it was time to take the cast off, Arvilla was pleased to see flour fall out. Doctors decided Arvilla didn’t need physical therapy because she had done so much rolling, Irene said. And, when Irene had surgery last year, it didn’t keep her from making lefse either. She planted herself in the kitchen, and the family went about making their treat. Some traditions, especially family-oriented ones, must be kept. AL
Each year the Andersons make about 20 dozen pieces of lefse. They have two lefse grills to cook on. Holiday 2013 | ALBERT LEA | 49