Long Island homeowners inflate 42-foot lawn Santa to ‘make Christmas great again’

This is holiday inflation everyone can get behind.

A Long Island homeowner is planning a big one for Christmas — installing a 42-foot inflatable Santa Claus that has attracted hundreds of visitors.

Farmingdale dance studio owner Jacqueline Proscia, 35, said the idea came after her neighbor, nurse Christina Stergiopoulos, 36, said she wanted to “make Christmas great again.”

“My husband was the first to say this to me; We have to make Christmas great again,” said Stergiopoulos, a supporter of President-elect Donald Trump, adding that she has seen a decline in holiday cheer in her neighborhood over the past few years, including in how homes are decorated.

Stergiopoulos’ husband, George, found a giant 135-pound Kris Kringle online for $3,000 on a sketchy website. And next-door neighbor Proscia — who said she got into it for the holiday cheer, not politics — happily agreed to display it on their shared front lawn and contribute to the cost.

“We’re always coming up with these crazy fun ideas,” Proscia, who holds a joint Halloween display with the Stergiopoulos family, told The Post on Monday.

When their husbands first took the giant St. Nick out of his box, he appeared as a giant, colorful pancake flat on the grass.

The upright, spacious decor – complete with a giant, green toy sack – is larger than both of their homes. It only takes 10 to 15 minutes to reach full size, but it requires constant air to keep it inflated.

“When we put it on the front lawn, it definitely looked larger than life,” Proscia told The Post. “In the back of my mind, 42-footer didn’t look like that in my mind.”

It appears the family has been successful in spreading the holiday spirit to Nassau County after hosting a larger-than-life Father Christmas event last Monday that drew visitors as late as 10 p.m., he said.

The two husbands also installed a series of lights so that the merry man of Holi would be more visible after sunset, which turned into peak viewing hours.

“It’s hundreds (coming), especially at night,” his neighbor across the street, Douglas McGowan, 55, told The Post. “it’s really great. All these families are coming to take pictures with their small children.

On Monday morning, cars, a UPS truck and a mail van slowly pulled up to shore to get a better view.

“We love Santa,” one traveler rolled down his window and told the homeowners. “It’s a great pleasure.”

McGowan, who has lived in his home for 26 years, said he and his family can sleep in heavenly peace despite “one or two traffic jams” on the quiet block.

To make sure the giant Santa doesn’t move dangerously in the wind, neighbors use 24 lawn spikes and cords to tie him to the lawn.

“It was a little scary when we first put it up,” Proscia said, noting that the balloon had to be fully inflated before it could be tied down like a blimp.

Proscia and Stergiopoulos initially had buyer’s remorse — and even considered turning off the decor on the first day.

But their deliberations were quickly interrupted by a viral video of Mega-Santa falling on its side, which was posted Long Island Wiseguys Instagram page,

“So then we had no choice,” Proscia said of keeping the balloon aloft. “That was the end of it.”

As a courtesy to neighbors, Santa’s owners are considering setting visiting hours Keep an Instagram page for updatesStergiopoulos is also investigating ways to work with a charity for the holiday season.

Inspired by last month’s election results, Stergiopoulos, who also proudly displays a Trump flag, wants to use Santa as a way to bring a new wave of enthusiasm and optimism.

“Just driving around, you can see more people coming in the Spirit,” the mother of three said.

“This (Christmas season), a lot of people are going out in a big way. People are happier. I’ve noticed a big difference in the last few weeks,” he added.

Stergiopoulos said she’s trying to distract herself from December’s looming electric bill — but she said she’s just as excited to give her kids the specular display as the rest of the neighborhood.

Stergiopoulos also ridiculed interior design experts Declaring “minimal” decor is a hit Theme for Christmas 2024.

“Absolutely not,” she said. “Go big or go home. That’s it.”