A festive rebellion has unfolded in a Colorado town, where residents banded together to save a giant Santa Claus inflatable from being torn down by their homeowners association just weeks before Christmas.
The Heart of the Dispute: A 'Too Tall' Santa
Dora Flores, a resident of Severance, Colorado, had saved for months to install an enormous 28-foot-tall inflatable Santa in her backyard. The jolly giant quickly became a local landmark, spreading cheer and drawing admiring neighbours who stopped to take photos.
However, the festive mood was shattered last week when Flores received a formal letter from Fromm & Company LLC, the firm managing the local homeowners associations. The letter declared the Santa 'excessive in height and not permitted' and demanded the family 'please remove immediately'. The warning was clear: failure to comply could result in fines and legal fees.
Community Rallies in a Festive Show of Solidarity
Heartbroken but determined, Flores took to social media on December 15 to inform her neighbours. She asked not for money to cover potential fines, but for community support. 'What we want is support from the community... to please email or call... and let them know truly how you all feel about having to remove Santa,' she wrote, advocating to keep the display up at least until Christmas Day.
The response was immediate and powerful. Neighbours swiftly organised a protest, displaying signs reading 'We Stand with Santa' and erecting their own giant inflatables in solidarity. Cody Bowden, who lives opposite Flores, installed a large snowman and vowed not to take it down. 'I don't see that this is anything offensive or anything wrong,' he told local news. Another neighbour joined the cause with a giant inflatable reindeer, creating a festive trio in defiance of the HOA's demands.
A Christmas Victory for Community Spirit
The groundswell of support had a rapid effect. Shortly after the community's protest gained momentum, Flores received a phone call from Fromm and Company. The firm apologised, admitted a mistake had been made, and granted permission for Santa to stay.
Just two days after her initial plea, Flores returned online to share the triumphant news. 'I wanted to thank everybody who took time of their day... This is such a blessing to know that as a community we can all come together!' she posted. Her comments section flooded with celebratory messages from relieved neighbours, with one noting: 'They did not make a mistake they realized that they did something stupid.'
The incident highlights the sometimes-contentious relationship between homeowners associations and residents, especially during the holidays. For scale, a similar 26-foot Santa is sold by retailers for around $800. In Severance, however, the value of community spirit proved priceless, ensuring a giant Santa could keep watch over the neighbourhood for the remainder of the festive season.
