A senior resident in Coplay, her companion and her son wanted to do something special to celebrate the recent holiday season - something fellow seniors, passersby and community members alike could enjoy in a responsibly socially distanced way.

They decorated the Maple Street residence’s entire front porch as a Christmas putz. It was a “look back in time” decoration.

A putz is a miniature village assembled and adorned with Christmas items like a nativity, snowmen, snow, buildings, a train set, Santa Claus items and more. Putz is derived from the German word “putzen,” which means to decorate or adorn.

The resident and her son wanted no recognition for the artful display.

The choice to have the Christmas village encompass the entire front porch was a necessity due to the pandemic. In a typical year, the home would be lavishly decorated indoors and open to family and friends to take in the holiday cheer.

Not having this indoor social opportunity, an outdoor display would allow people to meet safely and enjoy an old-style Christmas decoration.

The plan was to make it attractive and memorable to delight kids and other residents passing by and capture an old way of celebration, instead of electric blow-up and large plastic yard decorations. The reach back in time worked.

“This display is absolutely beautiful,” said Yolanda Mikovits, a longtime Coplay resident now residing in Hokendauqua.

Mikovits is a friend of the residents.

The display also featured homemade houses and a large train set from Germany. There was beautiful scenery, a homemade barn and other homemade items assembled throughout the putz.

Local children were enthused about the train set as they watched the rail cars loop around the tracks. Some had never seen a putz display like this.

“This a heartwarming story of older people thinking of older people during this pandemic,” Mikovits said.