Christmas Lights Make December My Favorite Month

My favorite month of the year is December. I love the holidays and all of the decorations that help us to get into the spirit. There is nothing more peaceful and tranquil than taking a drive in the early evening and seeing the houses perfectly decorated with Christmas lights. I'm especially fond of the white Christmas lights, as they look heavenly when there is snow on the ground.

At least that's the way we do our house. But have you ever driven down those blocks that all decorate with white Christmas lights? Yes it's still pretty, but I'm glad a lot of people on our block use colored lights as well. Some even use animated Christmas lights and again I'm thankful. I really enjoy the variety.

Christmas lights in December are the ideal prelude to the beauty of what the holidays really are all about. My favorite Christmas memories all have to do with the Christmas tree decorating. My father was always in charge of putting on the Christmas tree lights. Some years were more entertaining than others, particularly if the lights were tangled, which seems to be every year now in my house.

One particular Christmas, my father had the Christmas lights perfectly placed on the tree when my mother discovered that only half of the lights worked. My poor father had to check every bulb on those strings of lights. After an hour, he was triumphant and the white glow of the lights lit up the living room. I sat and stared at that brightly lit tree for what seemed like hours that night.

Of course now they make lights that won't all go out when there's a problem with a single bulb. Boy are they great. No more searching for that one bad bulb that spoiles the whole strand.

Christmas lights seem to come in every color imaginable these days and we all have our favorites. I don't mind various colors but the blinking lights drive me crazy. What's the purpose of them? How can you enjoy the beauty of the season when your eyes can't focus on the twinkling beauty for more than a second before they flicker off. And on. Do yourselves a favor and stick to the non-blinking Christmas lights in the future. Those that twinkle are nice, but the simple on and off blinking of an entire strand is not, at least to me.

Speaking of annoying decorating habits, what in the world are people thinking when they put their Christmas lights on bushes and trees and there is no organization? The lights are thrown in any various direction and all that gets accomplished is letting the passing admirers think that the decorators were lazier than lazy. Take some extra time and neatly wrap the Christmas lights around those trees and bushes. If you care enough to decorate and know that people will be seeing your artwork, have some pride.

My husband and I got married in January, a few weeks after Christmas. Our reception location was decorated in thousands of white Christmas lights. With the dim atmosphere and the sparkling of the white lights, it was my fairytale come true. Everyone seemed to love it as it set the mood perfectly.

Christmas lights can make any location seem dreamier and more relaxing. Christmas lights can set the mood for romance or tranquility no matter what season of the year it may be. Of course that doesn't mean you should leave up the lights year round. Just remember though, when you are taking the lights off of those decorated trees and bushes, organize them neatly for storage. Otherwise, my father will have company the following year as someone in your household struggles to unwrap the tangled mess. Trust me, its usually worth the extra few moments to be neat and tidy.

I say usually because sometimes, no matter how neatly we pack them, they come out tangled. Like the socks that disappear in the drier, there's no explanation for this. It just happens. Every year my husband mutters something about having one of those decorating services come to the house and put the lights up for him. It hasn't happened yet, but I'm sure that one year it will. That only means that I'll be out there directing the professionals to put the lights up exactly the way I want them.