Holiday spirit found in 3.5 million lights

Even without the use of a one-horse open sleigh, students can dash through the goose pimple-inducing winter air to a holiday season light display even a holiday Scrooge or Grinch might be flabbergasted by. \nIf the holiday spirit is defined by the spectacle of illuminated property, students can venture into a spirit-filled winter wonderland of about 3.5 million lights, more than 3,500 glowing Santa figurines and various other glistening holiday displays during the "Legendary Lights" show from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the historic Clifton Mill, in Clifton, Ohio, until Jan. 2. \nAfter traveling east along Interstate 70, students traveling to Clifton Mill should ride south along Route 72. A $7 ticket enables visitors' access to the Mill's gorge, covered bridge, animated miniature village of Clifton complete with "choo-chooing" trains, a life size manger and the waterfall of lights.\nThe Clifton Mill, in operation since 1802, is owned by the Satariano family -- a father and son enterprise.\n"This is our legendary light display," the younger Satriano said. "My father and I own it. It started off by accident; the first year we bought 100,000 lights. We turned them on and people just started showing up. We get young people; we get old people; we get everyone in between." \nIU junior Melanie Borrero, who traveled for four hours to the mill with her husband, said the American holiday season is a mixture of religion and shopping. \n"I felt (the holiday light display) was breathtaking," she said. "The amount of lights was amazing; it was worth the drive. I have never seen anything like that before. Christmas has turned into a holiday of consumption -- this is a perfect example of that. It is all about buying and spending to bring happiness to other people; to make other people feel good." \nIU junior Julio Borrero, Melanie's husband, said the Clifton Mill's waterfall of lights illuminated for him the Midwest's vision of holiday spirit.\n"I thinks it's cool someone took the time and effort to do something creative," he said. "I was a bit overwhelmed by the intensity of the spectacle itself -- to take the time to brighten up other people's day. In southern California, people don't seem to get that much into the holiday spirit -- people are more concerned with themselves."\nThe Satariano family would not disclose the financial burden needed to showcase their holiday spirit to the rest of the Clifton community, other Ohio residents and guests to the Clifton Mill. \n"I have never sat down to add it up," the younger Satariano said. "Our electric bill runs roughly $1,700 a week just to keep the lights running. You turn it on with one switch; I usually pick a small child to do it."\nBecause the Clifton Mill is an atypical holiday display, Julio Borrero said Americans tend to misplace the holiday season within diluted rituals and customs void of spiritual meaning. Displays like the Mill bring families and communities together, Borrero said. \n"I think we need to ditch the gift giving and focus on the time we spend with family and friends," he said. "I think commercialism has pilfered the holiday spirit and transformed caring into buying another person gifts. We should focus on the holiday traditions that bind us together as a community; perhaps, we should volunteer some of our time to help the less fortunate."  \nThe younger Satriano said he hopes the Clifton Mill light display inspires hope and happiness in the visitors.\n"Christmas is pretty much a universal holiday," Satriano said. "We just like people's responses. They laugh and have a good time when they're here. The kids' faces light up; that is all I could ever need. I would say this is a one of a kind, unique view. Nature in itself is beautiful. It's picturesque with all the lights."\n-- Contact staff writer David A. Nosko at dnosko@indiana.edu