By U.S. Senator Deb Fischer
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As the year ends, families and friends will reunite across our state to celebrate the holiday season. One of my favorite things about Christmas is that each person, family, and community has its own special traditions. No matter where you find yourself in Nebraska this season, I encourage you to share in one of our many unique celebrations.
Under the bright stars over North Platte rests a grand white house, trimmed in green and dressed in shining Christmas lights. While carolers sing, guests are free to tour the grounds in horse-drawn wagons.
The mansion, once home to the famed “Buffalo Bill” Cody—renowned for his legendary Wild West shows—and his wife Louisa, has long been the setting for “Christmas at the Cody’s.” The annual celebration carries on the festivities hosted by the Cody family every Christmas season.
Each year, nonprofits, local businesses, and Nebraska Game and Parks staff decorate the property, drawing families from across the state to enjoy the holidays and reflect on Christmases past.
These festive displays serve as a reminder of what Christmas in Nebraska truly represents—a time for unity among families, friends, and communities.
Further east, in Minden, residents proudly celebrate another local Christmas tradition.
Minden boasts over 12,000 lights, which decorate the courthouse dome and town square. These dazzling displays are visible for miles, giving Minden its well-earned title as Nebraska’s Christmas City.
This tradition began in 1915, when City Light Commissioner J.C. Haws strung lights from the railroad depot to the town square. Although bad weather disrupted his plan, Haws repurposed the lights to adorn the courthouse dome, a tradition that continues today.
But Minden’s Christmas charm goes beyond its lights. Each year, the community performs The Light of the World Christmas pageant, a labor of love involving months of preparation.
North of Nebraska’s Christmas City sits another classic Christmas destination, the village of Comstock.
While Comstock’s population is less than 100 people, they’re famous for one of our state’s most spectacular Christmas celebrations.
Eight years ago, Henry Nuxoll strung lights on his roof in memory of his twin brother. Soon after, he began receiving anonymous Christmas decorations in the mail from Nebraskans eager to help.
Over the years, that Christmas spirit spread across the whole town, and today, Comstock is completely transformed every holiday season. It features 20 blocks of displays with over 400 inflatables, including special neighborhoods like Grinchville and Snowman’s Land.
Comstock’s story reminds us how a single act of love can inspire an entire community.
During this Christmas season, I hope we reflect on how much we have to be grateful for in Nebraska and cherish these very special traditions. And no matter how you celebrate the Christmas season, I hope you spend it surrounded by loved ones.
To all my fellow Nebraskans: Merry Christmas. May this December be joyful and filled with blessings.
Thank you for participating in the democratic process, and I look forward to visiting with you again next week.