You may not be in the same holiday decorating league as Clark Griswald in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, but chances are you've already dragged boxes of lights, ornaments and wreathes out of the attic, and then stood on a shaky ladder to mount them outside. For most Americans, hanging bright-colored lights for the holiday season is a mandate. It also is big business. According to the National Retail Federation, nearly 66 percent of all consumers this year will on average spend nearly $52 to make their home and yard look festive. Estimates are Americans in 2003 will shell out roughly $6.5 billion on holiday decor. Spending for holiday decorations is a tradition, a connection to memories, according to Pam Danziger. "The holiday connects us with our past, present and future," said Danziger, president of marketing/research firm Unity Marketing, Stevens, Pa. "We're seeing Christmas decoration buying strong, as we're buying and spending more." At the Holiday Home Store on Pennsylvania Avenue in Greensburg, it's Christmas year-round, said manager Janine Harju. But sales begin to pick up in August and September, and "when people get their Christmas Club checks," she said. The holiday store carries a number of collectible pieces -- hand-blown, hand-painted glass ornaments, for example. "People will say, 'That's what my mother had,'" Harju said. "We're seeing people going back to the big, huge outdoor bulbs that were popular years ago." Sadly, after roughly three years of doing business, the slow economy has bagged the Greensburg Holiday Home Store location, which will close for the final time Jan. 3. The Ligonier shop, at 136 West Main St., will remain open. On Castlegate Circle in Greensburg, Ron Kline has been decorating for the holidays since he was married more than 20 years ago. "Even when I was in the service (Kline is a retired, 20-year veteran of the United States Coast Guard), we would try to get everyone on our block to decorate," he said. Kline goes all out with his decorative assault, including wreaths, garlands, a manger scene and, of course, icicle lights, which he strung while 25 feet up an extension ladder. "We do a lot inside, too; we put up a big train layout and a Christmas tree, we add to our collection each year," Kline said. The tree is artificial -- easier cleanup compared than a real tree, said Kline. Some retailers specialize in selling holiday decorations, which takes months to plan, acquire and set up. "We start setting up on Aug. 1 of each year, and we try to open as close to Columbus Day (mid-October) as we can," said Ricky King, co-owner of King Garden Palace & Nursery in Greensburg. At the Pool City store in Greensburg, holiday decorations are put up and displayed beginning in October, and consumers are waiting, said Tammy Harash. "As soon as the decorations are put out, the people are buying," said Harash, office manager. "All Christmas decorations are selling well this year." Three years ago, icicle lights were the rage in outdoor decorating. Now, everyone has the hanging sparklers, complete with clear and blue bulbs and even icicles that blink in a headache-causing pattern. King said the desire to buy icicles is waning, with outside inflatables the new "big thing." "They are about 15 feet tall and come as snowmen, Santa and others," King said. "You plug them in and they inflate. Then, when you pull the plug, they deflate." Price tag on the air-filled tethered balloon: about $50. Michelle Gricks of Sandy Hill Highlands in Irwin is not into large air-filled Santas, Rudolphs and Frostys. This year, she began decorating later than usual and is taking it slow. During previous decorating sessions, she admits going "bonkers," putting lights and decorations everywhere. "This year I'm not going to kill myself; I'm going to have fun," Gricks said, as she draped white lights on a lone tree in her front yard. "This tree and a floodlight on the front door and that's it." In addition to various items taking turns being the "hot" holiday decoration, another part of decorating that has changed over the years is where the majority of pieces are manufactured. Many years ago, Made in the USA was standard, then made in Taiwan became the norm, with some products manufactured in Mexico. Today, it's China. "Probably 90 percent of the products are made in China," King Garden Palace's King said. "It's wonderful to have things American made, but most people are on a budget and are looking for bargains." Gricks said her policy year-to-year is to replace what doesn't work, a strategy that makes economic sense when buying inexpensive imported products. "Things are just so inexpensive, if I can buy a string of lights for $1.67, why would I spend hours in our barn looking for something?" she asked.

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