KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WZZM) -- For most, the holidays are about tradition, and that's certainly been the case for one Kalamazoo neighborhood for the past 50 years.
The tradition at the corner of Main St. and Lauderdale Dr. in Kalamazoo, Michigan, began in 1965. A few of the neighbors along Lauderdale Dr. came together, bought large pieces of plywood, and began painting holiday images and messages on them.
"It started rather small," said Anne Anderson, who grew up in the 1960's on so-called "Christmas Card Lane" and remembers the first years of the tradition. "There were only eight houses who participated at the beginning."
Five decades later, all the homes along Lauderdale Dr. participate, and they've been doing it every year without fail.
Anderson says even after some of the people sell their houses and move away from the area, the new homeowners immediately buy in on the tradition.
"When someone moves out, they're told to leave their Christmas card behind so the new neighbors can use it," said Anderson. "If the new neighbors don't like the card that was left behind, they can create a new one, and if desired, they can recruit other neighbors to help them."
The popularity of Christmas Card Lane has never faded away through fifty years.
"When I say I live on Christmas Card Lane, people here in Kalamazoo say, 'Oh, I remember that; I used to go see that with my parents when I was little,'" Anderson said. "Then I say, 'Well, bring your kids now,' and they do."
Anderson says if you buy a home on Christmas Card Lane, there's nothing in the deed that states you have to participate, but real estate agents tell their clients upfront that there's an "annual neighborhood requirement" that comes with their new home.
"People come by the busloads to see the cards," said Anderson. "Every night, there's a line of cars from the entrance to Lauderdale Dr., all the way down to the end, and back - both ways. At Christmastime, you learn to be patient if you want to get down the street, especially if you live at the end if it."
Anderson can't believe the tradition of Christmas Card Lane has reached 50 years.
"We've managed to make this work for all these years, even with so many people moving out of the neighborhood, and new folks moving in," said Anderson. "Everyone likes doing it, and I truly hope it continues another 50 years, and beyond."
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