It's Christmas time and that means that pretty much the day after Thanksgiving the townfolk started covering their houses and yards in Christmas lights. It is an annual tradition which I have been looking forward to from the moment I knew I was going to be here for this time of the year. The annual competition of who shines the brightest is something the US is famous for - we keep it much more low-key in Germany, either because we don't want to put in the effort or we dread the resulting electricity bill. (It must be noted at this point that electricity is much cheaper in the US, especially if you have access to a time-of-use rate with lower nighttime prices. Please refer to the respective literature for further reading...)
Be that as it may, I decided to take my camera and my bike for a ride one night and document what the people of South Davis had brought to the table in 2017. It's truly impressive and really made the occasional late-night return from work much more enjoyable. Hope you agree! :)
The Minimalist:
This speciman wants to pretty up a specific part of his house or yard - just enough to avoid sceptical looks by the more ambitious neighbours. These pictures are already some of the more elaborate designs, usually its just some lights on a bush near the garage. This level is usually the highest reached in Germany...
The Third Dimension:
Some people have more artistic depth and build up multiple layers in their designs. Entrance ways are illuminated all the way to the backyard, garages finally have a purpose other than stereotypical "workshops", or weird landing strips are put on the front lawn with a crash-landed sleigh. At least that's how I interpret the last picture.
Double Rainbow all the Way:
Who says green and red are the only Christmassy colors? Exactly! Give me your blues and purples. And pinks! Don't forget a bunch of super cold white LEDs. The more the merrier! What else did we bring these f****** bushes through the drought for??
The Blow-Up-Doll:
If your bushes didn't make it through the drought, you can still inflate some festive monstrosity and illuminate it from within. There is no snow - ever - so how else are you going to build a snow man to greet your visitors? Global warming and stuff. Also, Snoopy is a legend and even fits the color scheme. Let's just hope no "young adult males" readjust their testosterone level by testing his structural resiliance...
The (almost) Silicon Valley:
Are you an early adopter of every new technology, always looking to test humanity's newest device? This should also be reflected in your Christmas decoration. It does not matter if you projector Santa and his elves building toys for the children on the windows of your living room (didn't get a great shot here, sorry - it was cold) or beam a Christmas tree laser-rave on your garage door. You have a Facebook-/ Twitter-/ Snapchat-/ Instagram-account to maintain and time is Bitcoins!
The Classic:
If you're tired of all the colors, spinning lasers and just want to focus on the eggnogg, why not tune it down to a nice yellow, candle-like colour and plaster the edge of the roof with it. Every edge you can find, actually. Add a few deer-shapes in the yard and get ready for the festivities.
The Sky is the Limit - literally:
This guy has got it all: Roof rims, hedges, sleigh AND star on the roof, herd of reindeer in the yard, the tree has a light-snake as far as the cord reaches, and even the roof itself is puking rainbows. Go big or go home! The neighbors have been complaining about sleep deprivation and migratory birds have started nesting in the illuminated redwood - but NASA started useing this natural landmark as a navigation point for the western seaboard so it is now a matter of national security. So sorry, neighbour!
A Christmas Wonderland:
It might not be quite as bright as the one above, but this one is a lot more fun: Not only is the color scheme slightly less erratic and the lights lead all the way around the side (incorporating the 3D-specimen from above), but also Christmas carols are playing in the background! If you zoom in really far, you can see a moving train choo-chooing by in the upper window and I swear some of these elves are waving back at the camera. All evening families stop over to enjoy this gem of Christmas spirit - my personal favourite!
Congratulations to all (unvoluntary) participants. Keep it going, it's a fun tradition!
Frohe Weihnachten! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
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