While most of us are still recovering from our Thanksgiving dinners and early-morning Black Friday jaunts, all the little towns that make up Haywood County seem to be already celebrating Christmas.

Regardless of whether you're in Waynesville, Canton, Maggie Valley or Clyde, you probably aren't too far from holiday banners, electrified wreaths or lit-up snowflakes dotting the road. Town-sponsored Christmas decorations are everywhere this time of year — and it's been this way for as long as most anyone can remember.

In the words of Fred Baker, Waynesville's public works director, going all out for Christmas has "pretty much been kind of a tradition that's been going on longer than I've been around."

Part of the practice is getting the decorations up early — even before people sit down for ...