The Moffa family from Westchase Florida is facing a hefty fine for being over-eager with setting up their Christmas lights too early.
They employed decorators to install their lights, however, because of slots being snapped up so quickly, they had to be put up on November 6, 2021.
The Family Local Housing Association (HOA) had since decided to take on the role of Scrooge, for putting the decorations up prematurely, threatening to fine the family $1,000 on November 8, 2021.
Moffa said he has no plans to remove the lights. He told the TV station: “That was their only availability, and I can’t climb up on the roof myself,” adding he didn’t know it was against the rules to put up Christmas lights before Thanksgiving.
He said: “The holidays and the pandemic, I think the kids are wanting something that’s brighter to look at.”
An attorney for the Westchase Community Association said a neighbor complained about such an early Christmas display, “Which led to community manager to investigate it.”
Jonathan Ellis told WFLA: “One of the things they’re preventing is from the person that has the holiday lights up all year-round or things along those lines.”
In the interview, Ellis said the rules are in place to be followed, but said the board is open to discussing some changes.
Moffa said, however, that the association hasn’t been receptive even after they offered to keep the lights off until Thanksgiving.
Chelsea Moffa took to Facebook to share the housing association’s threat, and after the story was picked up by multiple outlets, the Queen of Christmas singer Mariah Carey, re-tweeted the post in support of the family.
Mariah Carey said: “My personal preference is to wait until after Thanksgiving but there’s no regulating festiveness!!!”.
On the Washington Post, Michael Moffa resolved that even if the guidelines showed that the family had put the lights up “too early” that he’s “not taking them down”.
He concluded that “Everything looks so nice and for them to be a Grinch-like this, it’s just unheard of”.