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Furious Coder · 22nd December 2007, 08:35 PM

Actually, this is for my wife and I, becuase we make a habit of this every year around this time.

Each Christmas, usually on Christmas Eve or the day before, we'll go driving around looking for Christmas Light Displays on people's houses. We're not looking for the best, the brightest, the most thorough, or the ones that are classy and pleasant. No, we're looking for what we fondly call "Christmas Light Abortions." These are the light displays that combine every color known to man, and some known only to women with an extra gene, in the least organized, messiest way, and most apt to cause seizures in epileptics due to their off kilter blinking.

These displays are, of course, also the easiest to find, because they're all over the place. Low income neighborhoods have discordant messes, and high income areas have over the top abominations that are clearly on display only to show how much disposable cash the family has to spend on three of every available Holiday Light Display.

While I'm sure some of these houses are secular, like our own, I have to wonder why those who are religious (and statistically, there must be some) would decorate their home with such an obnoxious display of colored photons in what, to them, is a religious season? Is it just "for the kids", or is there some amount of piety that is earned by making one's house a glimmering beacon to the Almighty?

Please, share your own tales, and photos if you have them!

Chimera · 22nd December 2007, 08:38 PM

Your post inspired a Google search:

http://www.uglychristmaslights.com/

Some funny pics there. "Redneck Christmas" is especially lovely.

T'ai Chi · 23rd December 2007, 09:25 AM

I like donating canned food to the local church's food drive.

Foster Zygote · 23rd December 2007, 11:07 AM

[Aunt Bethany]Is your house on fire, Clark?[/Aunt Bethany]

joobz · 23rd December 2007, 11:24 AM

Originally Posted by Foster Zygote

[Aunt Bethany]Is your house on fire, Clark?[/Aunt Bethany]

The little lights, they aren't twinkling.

steve s · 23rd December 2007, 02:04 PM

When I was a kid there was a house up the street that used only red lights. It made the place look like a brothel. There was another house a couple of blocks over that used only alternating blue and green lights. Never could figure that one out. It was rather subdued looking, rather than festive.

Steve S.

PAC · 23rd December 2007, 03:02 PM

Getting throught to Dember 26th, the best day of the year.

22nd December 2007, 08:35 PM	#1
Furious Coder Student Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 45	My Favorite Christmas Activity Actually, this is for my wife and I, becuase we make a habit of this every year around this time. Each Christmas, usually on Christmas Eve or the day before, we'll go driving around looking for Christmas Light Displays on people's houses. We're not looking for the best, the brightest, the most thorough, or the ones that are classy and pleasant. No, we're looking for what we fondly call "Christmas Light Abortions." These are the light displays that combine every color known to man, and some known only to women with an extra gene, in the least organized, messiest way, and most apt to cause seizures in epileptics due to their off kilter blinking. These displays are, of course, also the easiest to find, because they're all over the place. Low income neighborhoods have discordant messes, and high income areas have over the top abominations that are clearly on display only to show how much disposable cash the family has to spend on three of every available Holiday Light Display. While I'm sure some of these houses are secular, like our own, I have to wonder why those who are religious (and statistically, there must be some) would decorate their home with such an obnoxious display of colored photons in what, to them, is a religious season? Is it just "for the kids", or is there some amount of piety that is earned by making one's house a glimmering beacon to the Almighty? Please, share your own tales, and photos if you have them!
Furious Coder Student Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 45

22nd December 2007, 08:38 PM	#2
Chimera Mind Fetishist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Southwestern US Posts: 394	Your post inspired a Google search: http://www.uglychristmaslights.com/ Some funny pics there. "Redneck Christmas" is especially lovely.
	__________________ "6,000 years ago, God created a 4-billion-year-old Earth. He can totally do that!"--Aggle-rithm "I always thought 'respect' meant 'don't let on how ridiculous you think other people are'."--Tragic Monkey

23rd December 2007, 09:25 AM	#3
T'ai Chi Penultimate Amazing Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 11,235	I like donating canned food to the local church's food drive.
	__________________ http://www.statisticool.com

23rd December 2007, 11:07 AM	#4
Foster Zygote Dental Floss Tycoon Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Between the pit of man's fears and the summit of his knowledge Posts: 14,461	[Aunt Bethany]Is your house on fire, Clark?[/Aunt Bethany]
	__________________ It looks just like a Telefunken U47... You'll love it.

23rd December 2007, 11:24 AM	#5
joobz Tergiversator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: That's how you get ants Posts: 17,586	Originally Posted by Foster Zygote [Aunt Bethany]Is your house on fire, Clark?[/Aunt Bethany] The little lights, they aren't twinkling.
	__________________ What's the best argument for UHC? This argument against UHC. "Perhaps one reason per capita GDP is lower in UHC countries is because they've tried to prevent this important function [bankrupting the sick] and thus carry forward considerable economic dead wood?"-BeAChooser

23rd December 2007, 02:04 PM	#6
steve s Illuminator Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 3,703	When I was a kid there was a house up the street that used only red lights. It made the place look like a brothel. There was another house a couple of blocks over that used only alternating blue and green lights. Never could figure that one out. It was rather subdued looking, rather than festive. Steve S.
steve s Illuminator Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 3,703	__________________ "Nature abhors a moron." -- H. L. Mencken

23rd December 2007, 03:02 PM	#7
PAC Critical Thinker Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 304	Getting throught to Dember 26th, the best day of the year.
PAC Critical Thinker Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 304	__________________ "Falsehood flies, and the truth comes limping after." - Jonathan Swift