This is the piece I wrote for my local newspaper this week – I am a contributing columnist:
I live in a wonderful old Victorian train town. My old town is loaded with the distinct charm of old that I absolutely treasure. This old is one of the many reasons I live here! I love the old of it all.
For the holidays our town traditionally becomes bedazzled with little white lights everywhere. Blocks and blocks of lights everywhere. Every tree, every lamp post and many of the store fronts are a twinkly. The bling of it all inspires holiday spirit, it is ever so festive!
This fall, right before Halloween our town hung streamers of lights all about the business district. Two long blocks of hung across the street, intermittent swags of lights. I didn’t get it. What’s with the lights? It wasn’t Christmas yet, and they had never hung long light streamers like this before. What was this town up to? I read in the paper that there was an initiative to draw folks to shop. As cute and darling as our town is, we have some empty store fronts, some shops struggling in competition with the big box stores. Not to mention the darn economy. This additional sparkle was supposed to create warmth. I was bothered at first. Why the expense? Why the labor to hang them? More lights? Why the swags? I have to admit though that I somehow did warm to them. When I walk into town at night it’s quite the festive glow.
However, in the spirit of greenness, you know that global effort to actually do less NOT more? I simply can’t help but wonder. Could reducing the light wrappings to let’s say every other tree, and every other lamp post still portray the same cheer? Would using less lights – let’s say half – still be enough to make a difference for the environment and still provide holiday twinkle?
Don’t get me wrong. I LOVE the lights. The traditional blink-blink of it all is ever so magical! I love our annual holiday walk. What a sight it is to see the thousands that gather in the square to sing and await Santa who arrives by fire truck! Ceremoniously there is the lighting of the huge tree at the Village Hall. I visit my fellow business men and woman the eve of the walk. It feels just like one big happy family. I love that my daughter traditionally sings for the event. We have been participating for years and years. I love it especially most, if it snows a big gentle white fluffy snow – like the first snow we recently had. Nature’s winter gift. Puts one in the mood for everything holiday. Would you agree?
I just wonder– could we lessen the gleam? Could we example a bit of green about the whole thing? Could we say let’s just do a little less and still have that holiday light sparkle we all love? Perhaps it would save the town some money too?
strings of lights flickr image
karen hanrahan | wellness educator and consultant | writer
nutrition ~ green clean ~ inch loss ~ anti-aging
Contact me: 708.482.0678
I love how much you love your town and its twinkly lights. I love how much you love to love it all!:-)It’s fun to be enthusiastic and still keep our sense of caring for the earth. No need to be a scrooge, is there?
There is soooo much to appreciate in this world !! I see you as a kindred enthusiast of it all!!
I guess with light comes hope and everyone is wishing that this Christmas. I love the lights and everything that the holidays bring.Wishing you a happy and an especially a healthy holdiay and a good new years. May it bring you everything you want in your life!
Anna – what a lovely parallel – I think with light hope follows too! I wish you and yours a very merry, merry!!
We have decorated our home this year with long strings of LED lights. The kids say the effect is “icy.” The lights sure are bright! Inside, we’re lighting candles. Anything to lessen the darkness of these long days…
Icy? Really? I am curious now! I did a minimal holiday decor this year – no lights. We do candles too! I have heard mixed reviews re: the LED lights
I think the idea of how much is enough is so important, for lights and so many other things in life. Too much and things cross into the wasteful category. Not enough is also a problem, though, and leads to feelings of deprivation.I think many hesitate becoming greener because they assume it is all about deprivation. But that sweet spot in the middle, the just enough spot, is so delicious!Thanks for helping me think more about where that spot is. Happy holidays!
That delicious sweet spot in the middle – absolutely beautifully stated !!! Thank you!