THE LIGHTS OF CHRISTMAS

I can't bellieve it.......I posted this article on their website for review on October 8, 2010, and they finally decided to publish it. If you want to see their website and this story, go to more.com/stories; otherwise, you can read it here and now.

3/18/2011




The Lights of Christmas

Why do we drag those tangled strings of lights out every Christmas? What is the meaning behind all that backbreaking labor it takes to wrap porch rails, adorn bushes, and wind hundreds of lights around evergreen trees? Are we gluttons for punishment, desiring to pay exorbitant electric bills?

We decorate our homes inside and out. The streets are bright with flickering lights, as are the retail stores that proclaim anything goes when it comes to decorating for the holiday. Anything, that is, to get shoppers’ dollars to go cha-ching in their cash registers. So, what’s really behind this widely accepted tradition? Does today’s excessive use of lights signify something else, a possible hidden meaning?

Christians celebrate what is said to be the true meaning of Christmas—the birth of Jesus. They honor the story of Joseph and Mary looking for shelter at an inn, but the only room is a stable where the Son of God is born on a bed of straw, surrounded by shepherds, angels, sheep and other livestock.

This tradition is carried on today by placing a nativity scene under the tree. Our family displayed such a scene, which included large, intricately painted porcelain figurines. However, one year we felt compelled to remove St. Joseph from the manger and bury the statue upside down in the backyard. We were told that this ritual would sell our home, which had lingered on the market for months. I have to tell you that it did work. However, when we moved in the dead of winter, absolutely no amount of effort could pry that figure from the frozen ground.

In earlier days, the holiday tradition began with the simple display of a Christmas tree, which dates back to Germany in the 16th century. When that first tree hit American soil is still controversial. According to wikipedia.org, in 1777, a Hessian soldier put up a tree while imprisoned at the Noden-Reed House. In prison? Really! I continued to read that Mathew Zahm of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, set one in place in 1821. That seemed more believable. But then, in another sentence, Charles Follen, a German immigrant, is credited as being the first to display a Christmas tree.

It was also recorded that in 1842 Charles Minnegarade decorated the first tree at St. George Tucker’s home. So now we know when and where it all began, right? Okay, it’s not exactly clear, but, one thing we know is that all of this led up to our extravagant lighting and decorating of Christmas trees.

Again with Wikipedia’s help, I found that strings of lights could be traced back to December 22, 1882. Then, Edward H. Johnson was proclaimed the Father of Electric Christmas Tree Lights when he lit up his own tree with the first hand-wired, 80 incandescent red, white and blue, walnut-sized electric light bulbs. Of course, it might be noted here that he was also an associate of Thomas Edison and vice president of the Edison Electric Light Company.

Soon, retailers began stringing Christmas lights around the inside of windows. However, the exorbitant cost was prohibitive for the average family until 1930. So when did these strings of lights become affordable enough to adorn our mantles, doorways, roofs and porch rails? Can you believe? It wasn’t until the mid 1950s. That’s when it started. That’s when our society went bonkers, each neighbor trying to outdo the other.

After that, it seems, Christmas decorating became extremely materialistic. Homeowners succumbed to retail propaganda and began stringing lights around roof edges. I think of this is a fad, which isn’t really pleasing, nor does it give that warm, fuzzy feeling I associate with Christmas. Think about it. It shows off bent and rusted gutters and emphasizes all those missing shingles. Besides, it takes away from the softness of twinkling lights adorning bushes, and reindeer bobbing on the front lawn. So, put away that rickety ladder. It will not only save dollars, it might save a trip to the emergency room.

In Illinois, it became a tradition for our family to drive across town in mid-December in our sort of heated car, bundled up in coats, hats and mittens, just to see a particular subdivision’s spectacular Christmas array. With my children in tow and later my grandchildren, I pointed out Santa, a manger scene, or a Disney talking character. The little ones planted their noses up against the frosted inside window to get a closer look. I admit it was a thrill for me too, hearing their giggles, listening to their bursts of excitement, and seeing their little faces light up. And, yes, we even enjoyed the glowing roof gutters.

In December, while living in a Chicago suburb, I marched outside and pounded a wooden snowman and reindeer into the frozen ground, and then strung lights around the evergreen and porch rail. I might add, ending up with numb toes and fingers. Now I live in California, so you’d think I’d go all out. But the first Christmas here, when my grandchildren hopped out of the car and didn’t notice my labored outside display, I said to myself, “You’ve got to be kidding?” Since then, I’ve opted for simple indoor decorations. That is, if you call eight huge Rubbermaid boxes full of Christmas decorations and two full-sized trees simple. I’d say it’s time to pare down more. Hey! I’m no spring chicken, you know.

Just the same, I doubt you can ever take the kid out of the grownup at Christmastime. I discovered this recently when I hopped on a boat to cruise around a parade of brightly lit boats at Newport Harbor. My usual scowl turned into a smiley face observing the helium-filled Santas, pelicans, snowmen and, of course, Rudolph. The air was cold, the wind brisk, and my fingers froze. Yes! In California. Thank goodness I remembered my mothballed winter coat with the hoody, but this idiot, who spent most of her life in Illinois’ frigid winters, of all things forgot gloves.

Recently, a commercial on TV showed real snow carted into California on a hot December day. The winter wonderland surrounded a Lotto winner’s house. My thought was if you want to play in the snow, take a drive to the mountains. Or, as my mother would say, “You’re throwing your money away.” This time, I’d have to agree with her, though I hardly ever did.

Perhaps these festivities keep our spirits up, perhaps we’ve gotten a bit fanatical, or perhaps we’re obsessed with outdoing our neighbor. However, my bet is that it goes beyond that.

"Hey, it’s Christmas,” you say. “That’s what we do; don’t be such a Scrooge.”

Yet, when the days grow short and the nights long, aren’t we really stringing all those lights to prolong the day and ward off the night? Maybe it’s to honor the birth of Christ, or maybe it’s simply to celebrate the holiday. But, stand up and be counted if you also string those lights because you’re just plain scared of the dark.