St. George's resident fills house with Santa cheer

Walking into Dianne Alexander's house is a little like travelling to the North Pole.

When entering her front door, a few Santa figurines are there to greet you with holiday happiness. As you make your way up the main stairs, Santa figurines are perched on each step. And at the top, well, there's a life-sized Santa figure waiting to say hello.

"This is my favourite time of year," says Ms. Alexander.

Her love of the holiday season, and especially the jolly ol' elf, is evidenced by a plethora of Santa Claus memorabilia displayed throughout her house.

"My godson counted 100 here in the living room, not including what's on the tree," says the St. George's resident of her Santa collection.

The family's Christmas tree stands in one corner of the living room and is filled from top to toe with Santa ornaments. A special one is perched almost at the top. It's the first Santa decoration she received, a gift from her then five-month-old daughter, Kennedy.

In the 14 years since, Ms. Alexander's collection has grown, and she still adds about a dozen Santas each year to the group.

"Everybody says it's so easy to get me a gift for Christmas - anything Santa," she says.

Sitting on the fireplace mantle in the living room is a set of Woodland-themed Santas, which her husband Paul purchased during his travels around Canada and the United States.

"He picks them up wherever he's to," she says. "He's never stuck to get me a gift."

But the Santa collection doesn't end there. In the kitchen, a section of counter space is reserved for Santa cookie jars and other themed dishes. The hallway has a Santa quilt hanging on the wall and a bookcase at the end of the hallway houses an assortment of Santas, including those from England and Scotland.

The main bathroom is also decked out with Santa-themed items - including a shower curtain, towels and a bath mat. Downstairs, there is even more Santa memorabilia on display.

Ms. Alexander says there are so many Santas, they have their own room in the basement, which has been enlarged several times over the years to accommodate the ever-growing collection.

"If people think I'm a big kid, so be it," she says, with a chuckle. "But I do love Christmas - and anybody can drop by to see my house, as long as my car's in the driveway."

Each Santa has its own special details, with Ms. Alexander noting very few duplicates in her collection. There are porcelain, pewter and crystal Santas. Some sing, while others dance, walk, talk, laugh, snore, climb a ladder, and ones that even ride a bicycle and a Ski-Doo.

"I really can't," is Ms. Alexander's reply when asked to pick her favourite Santa.

As for the gift-giver who started Ms. Alexander's passion for collecting Santas, daughter Kennedy says she takes it all in stride.

"I just got to used to them," says the 14-year-old. "When you walk out of your bedroom, there's all these Santas watching you. But I don't mind it."