The NYC resident behind the over-the-top holiday decor, Frank Bianco, has shared snippets of his process on Instagram—where he is better known by his username and alter ego, “Frankie Christmas.” In a recent conversation with New York City’s own “unofficial talent scout,” documentary director and social media personality Nicolas Heller (also known as New York Nico), Bianco revealed his one-of-a-kind winter wonderland takes over 200 hours of labor and 13,751 Christmas lights to create. The 54-year-old building manager told Heller, 33, that he’s been decorating his apartment since he was about 18, but over the past 15 years or so, it’s become more of an obsession than a seasonal chore. For those wondering how he manages to light up every corner of the one-bedroom apartment—including the bathroom—his secret is starting early. Bianco revealed that he begins decorating his apartment right after Labor Day—well ahead of the official start to fall and before many of us have the holidays on our minds. But don’t worry, his hard work doesn’t come tumbling down after Christmas Day. Bianco says he enjoys the fruit of his labor until April. So when you think about it, spending 200 hours hanging nearly 14,000 lights doesn’t seem like such a hefty investment when the decor is left intact for over half the year. His apartment isn’t the only part of his life that’s been dedicated to his love for the season; with over four dozen holiday-themed tattoos, Bianco’s body has also become a pillar of Christmas joy, featuring 47 snowflake tattoos and almost a dozen other works of body art related to Christmas, including a giant portrait of Santa Claus on his back, per the interview. When he’s not decorating his home, he’s probably listening to his favorite Christmas song, “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” or watching his favorite movie, “the original Miracle on 34th Street, because that’s when Kris Kringle said, ‘Christmas is not a day, it’s a frame of mind.’” Someone should alert Mariah Carey, because we may just have met the Queen of Christmas’ match! Want to see even more of Bianco’s work? Check out the video below!
