The above pic is of a house around the corner from where I live. The photo does not do it justice. Each year the elderly couple who live there put up the lights and keep them on to midnight for the whole of December. They sit on the step at the front gate each night and answer the questions of the persons who come to see the light display. I imagine that the same questions keep being asked: What’s your electricity bill like? How long does it take to put them up? Why do you do it? The display includes a spectacular nativity scene and there is a sign with a bucket saying that donations are given to the local church. We joke that the display must be visible from space. Parents bring their children who stand mouths agape as they look at the magic display, traffic slows down as it passes. I know that some neighbourhoods and some streets go crazy with lighting displays, causing traffic jams, parking problems and annoyance for those locals who simply want quiet or privacy but one day the old man and the old woman will be gone and there will be no more lights. The neighbourhood will be a little poorer for the loss.
Remember Clark Griswald with his 25,000 lights at Christmas. Clark blacks out the entire neighbourhood with his display:
These days Clark’s display would not rate a second look on You Tube where extreme lighting features not only the amount of lights but also movement, synchronised to music; colour; amount of area covered, and trees etc incorporated. The Brits may put on the best pomp and ceremony but the Seppos win hands down in Christmas lights displays. There’s a thesis in that somehow but I’m not going to work it out now.
Some Christmas light displays:
This one is a classic and has been around for a couple of years. It still leads the field and has had nearly 10 million hits:
The Amazing Grace House, see a house rock to the music:
No sound, no music, just lights, colours and lots of it. A WTF moment:
Your neighbor surely likes to make their Holiday season memorable! And I think filling their house with spectacular lights is their way to show that Holiday spirit. Is this an annual thing for them? It is true that this could take some time and effort to set up, but nothing beats the joy of seeing your home fully-lighted during Christmas. And the neighbors definitely love it!
ReplyDeleteHi Allison. Thanks for your comment. Yes, every year without fail.
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