Connor’s Conundrums » Purpose of Christmas Lights

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Purpose of Christmas Lights

Posted by Connor on December 15th, 2006

As I drove to Institute last night, I passed several houses that had their Christmas lights up. A thought struck me: What in the world are the purpose of Christmas lights?

Honestly! Why do people climb their roof, risking breaking their neck or some other body part, all for a few lights? Like trees, snowmen, Santa, reindeer, and all the other commercialized crapola people focus on during this season, lights have nothing to do with Christmas! So why bother?

Granted, I can understand going through the painstaking process of putting up lights if you’re going to wow the world with a video like this, but any other reason falls short of rationale, in my mind.

I can see a reader or two trying to argue that Christ is the light of the world, and therefore the Christmas lights in a way reference the Savior. I don’t think it would be too non sequitur, then, to argue that I’d be referencing the Savior by flashing my brights at oncoming traffic while running errands. Clearly, Christmas lights have nothing to do with Christ.

The history of Christmas lights is quite recent, and pretty lame. In no way is there a desire to “honor tradition” by continuing the practice, since there has never been any meaningful purpose to speak of.

Growing up, I’d often hear others speaking ill of those in the neighborhood who didn’t participate in the practice of stringing lights along their house. Is this type of judgment a common occurrence? Is somebody’s “holiday cheer” measured by their participation in purposeless practices?

Perhaps these people realized what Christmas was really about, and spent their time, energy, and resources pursuing that purpose. Perhaps.

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13 comments so far. Care to chime in?

Hey yeh! That’s it! People put up lights so their neighbors won’t speak ill of them.

#1 Kelly Winterton on December 15th, 2006

But I’m sure for some of those huge home displays, it is the vain goal of outdoing the others on the street.

#2 Kelly Winterton on December 15th, 2006

Kelly, agreed. It seems to be a very vain practice (for some) when the season should be teaching us humility, service, and love.

Honestly though, some neighborhoods seemingly scorn those households that don’t participate. I don’t get it. Isn’t Christmas about Christ? Who gives a flingin’ rip about lights..?

#3 Connor on December 15th, 2006

I suppose that some Mormons feel it their duty to display lights on their homes, because SLC Temple Square does. But the Ogden Temple has no lights. I don’t think the Bountiful, Provo, Jordan River have lights either. It is church policy that no church meeting houses are to have lights.

#4 Kelly Winterton on December 15th, 2006

I seem to remember seeing lights on the St. George Temple. Does anyone have knowledge about other Temples that do or do not have lights?

#5 Kelly Winterton on December 15th, 2006

Where have I failed??? This from a son who was raised in a home where we faithfully put up over 40 boxes of Christmas decor with over 100 nativity sets . . . . .
Why? I love creating a magical month for my children that is different from the rest where we talk every day about Christ and we are focused on service to others and giving to others.
And yes, it’s a bit bonkers. And every year I get excited about it . . .
But the outdoor lights are truly a competitive field . . . it’s hilarious as we drive up and down analyzing . . . how dumb. But it’s part of the magic . . . .
We have so little magic left in our world. Everything is so literal and real and practical. We can indulge ourselves a bit in nonsensical creativity . . . even if it’s only displayed in commercial lights arranged in death-defying ways..

#6 mother on December 16th, 2006

Nativities are great (and my mom must have set some sort of world record w/ how many she owns and displays). But the lights have no meaningful purpose! I don’t mind creativity, and I don’t mind “magic” (Temple Square is awesome!) but we shouldn’t look down on others who see no point in it and wish to not participate. “Magic” is subjective to each person’s interpretation. I might find it magical to reverently celebrate the holiday w/ loved ones and donate our extra money to those who are less fortunate. Some may find it magical to spend their time down at a soup kitchen. Each person has their own interpretation of how best to celebrate this wonderful holiday season. “As for me and my house”, I don’t care much for the lights.

#7 Connor on December 16th, 2006

I don’t think it’s correct to say they have no meaningful purpose when its evident that they do—why else would people bother to put them up each year?

The lights (originally candles) on trees and homes are a reminder of the star. For me, its a symbol that points back to the original nativity.

#8 John Anderson on December 16th, 2006

The lights (originally candles) on trees and homes are a reminder of the star. For me, its a symbol that points back to the original nativity.

I’m going to conduct an informal survey among friends and ward members today and tomorrow, asking “What do Christmas Lights represent, if anything?” I’ll be interested to see if more than a couple make the connection between house lights and the star that appeared at Christ’s birth. I myself have never made that connection before. I suspect that people “bother to put them up each year” simply because it’s something everybody does. You know, that whole “traditions of the fathers” thing.

#9 Connor on December 16th, 2006

A thing of beauty is a joy for ever:
Its loveliness increases; it will never
Pass into nothingness; but still will keep
A bower quiet for us, and a sleep
Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.
–John Keats

Can’t they just be pretty and, therefore, have value?

I hate the commercialization of Christmas, but I don’t think that lights really fit into that (except for the “keep up with the Joneses” attitude, but I don’t think that’s as pervasive as you make it sound). Lights are pretty, and they make me happy. No other reason is necessary.

#10 jeff on December 17th, 2006

Lights are pretty, and they make me happy.

Then why just for Christmas? If lights make you happy, and you want to be happy all year round, why not keep the lights up the entire year? Ah, but then you’ll be the brunt of jokes by others who wonder why you’ve yet to take the lights down, for they are “Christmas” lights.

The results of the informal survey are in! I had a couple people argue that the colors are symbolic (white represents Christ, red represents blood (for the Atonement), etc.). A few said that their only value and purpose is for decoration (as my mom and Jeff have argued). One person claimed that they represent the star, as John stated.

Symbolism can be applied to anything. If you look hard enough, you can find meaning and value in any object and try to make more of it than it really is. But I think the important thing is to look at the historical background and analyze why we do the things that we do, so that they don’t become “vain repetitions” and “traditions of [our] fathers”, actions without purpose or meaning.

#11 Connor on December 17th, 2006

Honestly, coming from the light-starved north (sitting in front of my ‘go-lite’ light box as I type this…), they brighten things up in the darkest time of year. That’s it, purely psychological. As the sun comes less and less, and we humans have progressed beyond campfires, we seek to illuminate the ever-darkening world around us.

How many more days until the solstice???

#12 Naiah Earhart on December 18th, 2006

I just came across this comment on a post about Santa, which cites a few interesting verses in Jeremiah related to Christmas decorum:

Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.
For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.
They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. (Jeremiah 10:2-4)

#13 Connor on January 8th, 2007