What do christmas lights mean to you?
I asked my parents, who are jewish, if I could put lights outside the house this year for the holidays. Surprisingly (to me), they were extremely offended by my question, saying that the lights directly represent christmas and christianity, and not the general holiday season/spirit which is what I have always thought.
The modern-day version of christmas lights certainly don’t date very far. The first electric christmas lights were invented by someone at the Edison company, and only after their invention did most people start putting lights in other places in and around the house, rather than just hanging candles on the tree. In fact, everything I find mentions that decorating trees with lights came many years after the holiday was started.
I talked to a few people at work, who are not jewish and do put up lights for the holidays, and nobody thought any connection between religion and lights. Everyone’s thoughts were that this time of the year is a celebration, and just as you would put up streamers for a birthday party, you put up lights to celebrate the holidays and winter solstice and enjoy the time of year.
So I ask: What do christmas lights mean to you?
Update: A lot of people have been posting comments with background information about the holiday, which, while interesting, isn’t exactly what I had in mind ;). My question to the blogsphere is, when you see a house decorated with “christmas lights”, what does it make you think? Do you see a religious significance or not? Do you many any assumptions about the people who live in the house? And, do you think anyone should feel comfortable putting up lights during the holidays regardless of their belief (or lack of belief)?
Categorized as Other
I always considered lights to be part of the festivities.
Like disco lights at a party, although I havn’t been to a disco for some time.
Wait what? A string of small lights is christian? I suspect you would have trouble finding someone who associates the two directly. Certianly, many people associate the time of year with the christian holiday of christmas, and the decorations merely by extension.
Besides, I thought the whole light thing was more jewish anyway. (Modern christmas is, of course, a mixture of a lot of different things – I really don’t think santa had anything to do with jeusus, and let’s not forget that putting candles on your tree is nothing but a fire hazard.)
thats funny, jewish family are really tight like that though. One time I hooked up with this jewish girl for the night she was a freakaleak and liked white boys…oh wait a min, we are talking about lights, yeah I find lights just to mean celebration in general also.
get the icicle ones they represent icicles cant go wrong there!
This is hilarious. I know a lot of Christians who refuse to call the tree a ‘Christmas tree’ because it has nothing to do with (religious) Christmas!
Christmas trees, lights, bells and Santa Claus are very certainly _not_ of Christian origin. But, Christmas itself has a deep connection with Christianity: it is the birthday party for Jesus Christ.
Some people say the Christmas tree comes from old Germanic times in central Europe. Others think that the trees and lights were introduced as a sort of replacement for the religious Christmas.
I’m no big fan of christianity or any other religion, but I rather like christmas lights. Just part of the fun.
Besides, it’s bloody dark outside most of the time in December, at least here in Finland. Any extra help, even from christmas lights, is welcome.
chrstmas is a bastardided version of the pegan celebration of the winter solstic. jesus was born in the summer.
try offering your parents a book from Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen called “O Cavaleiro da Dinamarca” (tranlation is something like “The Dannish Knight”), and it’s supposed to explain in a non-religious way why we use Christmas lights. Perhaps u can convince them that way..
personally, i’ve never used lights in any religious form.
Santa Claus is an adoption of a russian myth, in German “Väterchen Frost” (~ father frost). Originally he wears green clothes, but Coca Cola pushed it as a marketing thing and now he wears red. There’s hardly anything as un-christian as the whole Santa/Christmas Tree/… thing.
The Christmas tree and lights are both Nordic/Germanic traditions IIRC. Pagan traditions I might add. The original tradition revolved around the shortening of daylight hours in winter and involved a feast. Like a large number of things in Christianity, when the people assimilated so did their customs and traditions. Due to the timing of the old tradition meshing with the Christian one (which was actually derived from the pagan Roman feast of Saturnalia) the tradition stuck. So in short, they are not *really* Chrisitian in the strictest sense, but knowing the history of Christian traditions, what is?
Until now i haven’t talked to other people about the meaning of christmas lights. I’m not really religious even if grow up in a christian family and tradition. But for me the lights have something to do with christmas. I couldn’t imagine that people would put all the lights on the tree and on their house if it would be just winter, holidays and no christmas.
But at the same time i wouldn’t interpret to much religiously into it. I have no problem if also a non-christ put up some lights and i don’t walk along the streets and think that every house with some lights is inhabited by a christ.
There is no longer any religeous meaning in Christmas. If anything they should be offended by the connotations of consumerism. Our neighbors lawn looks like Hallmark threw up on it each holiday. Just light a candle. That’d kind of neutral.
It depends on the color of the lights to me. If the lights are red and green, the first thing that I think is “Chritmass” but any other color i dont think any religion.
hmm…
I think oooooooo pretty or if there is a lot on a particular house then i’m all like; wow they have to much time on thier hands. Most of the time I think that most holidays are just a way of companies to make money.
Hi,
I am a Christian and I have never seen any relation between lights and my belief.
My cousin is an atheist (like his parents) and they put lights on their house every year.
We are about 33 years old. And we put “lights” on our house for as long as I remember.
>… do you think anyone should feel comfortable putting up lights during the holidays regardless of their belief (or lack of belief)?
Do you enjoy this period of the year ?
If the answer is yes, why should you not simply use lights to express your joy ?
So, the answer is : whatever the belief or lack of belief are, does this person has any reasons (like expressing joy) to put lights on his house ?
If the answer is yes ….
Hope this make you more confortable to put lights on your house.
The lights represent a celebation of the season. As far as religion, I see no association. Same with a Christmas tree.
Most Christians would reflect their religion during the holidays with a nativity scene and going to church.
By the way, put the lights up or whatever YOU enjoy. Happy Holidays.
I believe the lights are part of the celebration and many people enjoy them. I am a christian and I believe that Christmas is a time to encourage our children to celebrate the birth of our Savior. If the beautiful lights excite them, and the wonder of Santa Claus teaches them to give without expecting in return, and a Christmas tree renids them of the season, I see no harm in any of it. I think it is easy in todays world to be caught up in the commercialization of this holiday, but if we choose to celebrate and teach our children with the right intentions, we should be happy. To me a chrstmas tree and lights on the house are fond childhood memories. The triangle shape of the tree represents the trinity. The needles point upward like hands praising God. Evergreen represents being forever eternal life, and the gifts represent charity and love.
I lived in Alaska for several years with my husband who was stationed there with the military. In Alaska people put up white lights on their houses and outside trees starting in October. We were there for 3 winters and I loved this tradition. Even though it had nothing to do with anything other then the amount of Day light you get in Alaska during the winter season. Lights aren’t pagan. Lights aren’t christian. Lights aren’t Jewish. Lights are lights. Lights make the electric company happy that you are using more energy.
People really need to get over it. Ask your parents if you can hang 8 strands of lights.
And Happy Holidays ( or lack of Holidays, which ever you prefer) to everyone!
Why do you quarrel and talk in vain? Don’t you know that the only thing that matters is what the Lord thinks? How does He view what you do? Consider His feelings. If you do anything against Him, woe to you. He is the God who created you. Do you really think you can hide from Him? How ignorant you all are. He knows where you stand. He searches your hearts. You are an evil generation. Therefore pray for Him to forgive you and repent. Instead of giving your opinions, consider whether or not the things you do are upright in the sight of God. If you do this, you are at peace with God. If you don’t woe to you for His anger is kindled against you. So be it. If you do sin, remember that there is not one sin that you commit that cannot be forgiven. Look into these things beloved.
I am a Christian and before I was Christian I put up lights every year. My husband was Muslim and he helped me put the lights up and enjoyed it very much. One time we had over 15,000 lights and it looked like a winter wonderland. Now that I am Christian I still put lights up. I use to really be into Santa before my conversion. But now I focus more on the savior. But I still put up my Santa decorations and I like the idea of Christmas being a time of peace and love. The savior was born in April by the way. I have always thought Christmas was such a wonderful time. Carols are beautiful. Even Barbara sings them! Colors and lights make my winter much brighter and joyful! So go ahead and decorate your home and enjoy the beauty!
I think people connecting commercialized christmas ( American Tradition ) with the birth of Christ is ignorant. These are 2 seperate things. Just because a Christian celebrates an American Tradition, does not make it Christian, and to say so is not respecting people that may only celebrate the American Tradition and do not take part in celebrating the birth of Christ. Could it be that some religions think it is wrong to celebrate the American Tradition and are upset that Christians celebrate both? Could be. I am suprised that Jews believe presents, lights, and tree’s are a Christian thing. Also kind of offended that someone would cheapen christianity saying all you need to do to be christian is hang up lights and put up a tree.
Is it okay if Christians participate in the American Tradition and Celebrate the birth of Christ, and at the same time do not require others to believe in either.
Am I crazy to think this? As a white Christian do I have the right to think this?
I am a Christian, I believe in Jesus Christ. I love Christmas period. I love Christmas trees, lights, garland, bows, nativity scenes, santa & all the reigndeer. I put up around 50 thousand lights on my home. It’s look good. And no it’s not tacky.
For me and my family Christmas is about the birth of Jesus Christ. Everything that we do has a spiritual meaning to us. When I look at the tree I see the cross. The green stands for everlasting life through Jesus Christ. We are told in the bible that Jesus is the light of the world and that we are to be lights also. so when I see the lights this is what I think of and have taught my children. A strand of lights is like christians all shining to the world to let them know Jesus is alive and loves them. The candy cane represents the sheperds staff. The star represents the star that shined so brightly leading the sheperds and wise men to Christ. Jesus is the reason for the season and he deserves to be celebrated after all he died and rose again for each of us. He gave the greatest gift. He gave freely as should we.
With immence pleasure i remember Christmas. The significance of light is nothing but the presence of God. It is in light we see everything. We should see ourseleves and others, and everything in the “light”. The light reminds us the presence of God with us, to love, to care, to protect, to guide and to save.
Like everything else in this world, this gets blown out of proportion. I am a christian and I grew up in a christian home. To me the lights are just that… lights. I put up several thousand lights every year and they are not done for religious reasons. I enjoy the people coming by to look at my work. We have a large computerized display and a radio broadcase so you can hear the music without bothering the neighbors. I enjoy designing the show and talking to the people as they come by to enjoy it.
To me Christmas lights spell profit, as much as I like to look at them, I’m also always looking at them from a perspective of what can I learn that will make my company more money. This is because I’ve taken my interest in christmas lights and turned it into a holiday lighting business that I run each year at christmas. I even created a website deticated to making money hanging christmas lights, you can check it out here:
http://CashingInOnChristmas.com
You would think with so many people calling themselves christian responding and talking about christmas at least one of them would realise that december 25th is not the true birthday of Jesus Christ. Christmas predates the belief in the christian religion and remains today a Pagan holiday, just some how, that became one of Jesus. The true archaic scripture on which the bible and many other stories were based states that Jesus ws born around the time of September more than December, but the exact date remains a mystery today.
But to me, the lights create a feeling of warmth and excitement. Not because of the 25th, but because it is a time that many people get together and share their time in a kind and courteous manner.
Christmas lights brings a smile to my heart. When I feel down Christmas lights brings a smile to my face and heart. To me the lights represent the light that Jesus brought to us.