A Florida family is facing a fine after reportedly putting up Christmas lights outside their home too early.
The Moffa family in Westchase, Florida, hired professionals to put up their Christmas lights, but because the company’s availability was so limited, they set one early as November 6.
This would not be that big of a deal is their local (HOA) housing association did not take on the role of the Grinch this year and slap the family with a $1000 fine for prematurely putting up Christmas decorations.
Michael Moffa explained to the Washington Post how after a rough time during the pandemic, the family was looking forward to the holiday. According to Fox 13, because Michael works ‘long hours’, he got the decoration professional done. The appointment even had to be scheduled out a year in advance.
‘If you take a look at the lights, it’s not egregious, right? And when they are on they actually look pretty cool and the kids enjoy it and it puts a smile on their face’.
Just two days after their decorations were put up, November 8 would be the day the family receives notice from the Westchase Community Association informing them of their violation of the rules. According to their local rules, festive decorations could not be put out earlier than Thanksgiving.
They were later threatened with a fine of $100 per day the decorations remained on their house prior to the more acceptable date.
Chelsea Moffa shared their story on social media and proceeded to get a lot coverage from different outlets about their family’s situation.
The queen of Christmas music herself, took to Twitter to show her support of the Moffa family.
‘My personal preference is to wait until after Thanksgiving but there’s no regulating festiveness!!!’
The local housing association said that the complaint was filed by a neighbor, however a formal vote must be made to determine the consequences of the Moffa family before anything is final.
Michael Moffa explained that he is ‘not taking them down’ because he ‘had to put them out early.’
‘Everything looks so nice and for them to be a Grinch like this, it’s just unheard of,’ he concluded.
Check out how Christmas Chronicles 2 is the new mash-up of Home Alone and The Grinch.
