12 Families Who Take Christmas Lights Way Too Seriously, and a House You Can Spot From O’Hare

The dad across the street from us, the one whose kids helped me dig the snow tunnel, put his lights up every Saturday after Thanksgiving and never once got them straight. My mom watched from our window and said we didn’t need lights of our own, because his already reached our porch. These 12 families take Christmas lights even more seriously, and most of them have stopped arguing about it.

A First Home, Four Strings of Lights and Finally Some Christmas Spirit

“Bought my first home ever, and tonight was the first time I’ve ever hung my own Christmas lights. It’s not much, but I think it looks good.”

I only had 4 strings of lights, but was something! I think I’ll finally have some Christmas spirit!

InvisibleTys_Wife / Reddithttps://www.reddit.com/r/MadeMeSmile/comments/186b43r/

A Dad Snapped a Hummingbird Warming Itself on the Family’s Christmas Lights

“My dad snapped this pic of a hummingbird enjoying the small amount of heat from our lights during freezing rain”

My dad has heated feeders outside so all the little guys are always congregated at our house. Probably not much else to eat around here

InvisibleOutspokenSquid / Reddithttps://www.reddit.com/r/pics/comments/7lx9nf/

400 Warm White Bulbs and a Star Above the Chimney in a First Year With Commercial-Grade Lights

“My first year with commercial grade lights.”

Very happy with the results.

400 warm white c9’s. Led Christmas star above chimney, 4’ led wreath and 3 9’ led garlands.

Honestly the clips makes a huge difference, both the all in one clips for roof/gutters and in ground.

InvisibleBluedriver / Reddithttps://www.reddit.com/r/ChristmasLights/comments/1hljsb6/

From the author:

The dad across the street started on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, always with the same ladder and the same cardboard box, and by dark one corner of the roof hung lower than the other. His kids held the extension cord. I held the end of it once and felt like I had been promoted. Nobody on our street ever said a word about that corner.

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A 14th Year of Lights, With 52 Snowflakes and a Display You Can See From a Plane

“2024 Christmas lights. First time I ever put a star high above the house.”

This is my fourteenth year putting up Christmas lights and the best display I’ve ever done.

52 snowflakes, 40 six-inch globes, 15 candy canes, 9 gingerbread men, 4 trees decorated, 2 snowmen

If you’re in Des Plaines. Illinois come on by. Or if you’re flying to or from Chicago O’hare airport, my lights are visible

InvisibleFranciscoDAnconia85 / Reddithttps://www.reddit.com/r/christmas/comments/1h6h8a2/

An Ambitious First Timer: 24 Strands on Each Tree, and 50 More Saved for Next Year

“Ambitious first timer...cont”

I think I’m finished for year one. I definitely went overboard and have another 50 strands of lights (colored), but the wife asked to stick to just white for the first year.

Each of the trees have 24 strands of m5 mini lights. Everything looks very nice in the picture but it just doesn’t do it justice.

InvisibleJohnjamjams / Reddithttps://www.reddit.com/r/ChristmasLights/comments/1gxq6fb/

A Grandpa Who Gave Up Untangling and Hung the Whole Knot on One Hook

“Grandpa hated untangling his Christmas lights each year so one year he got fed up and just hung the whole knotted mess on one hook. It became his new tradition and one of my fondest memories.”

Invisibleeburke05 / Reddithttps://www.reddit.com/r/christmas/comments/a3siez/

Color-Changing Lights for a 7-Year-Old Who Never Forgave the Family for Buying a Brown House

First time doing lights framing the outside of the house. With the snow we got, I finally went outside to take some pictures. House is warm brown so warm white lights were a brainer but I e got a 7yr old girl who hasn’t forgiven us for moving into a brown house and has always wanted color. So we went with color changing LED.

In the end, I’m happy with these. I know LEDs aren’t the most popular but I really wanted to be able to change color without having to learn how to program something. These can also go up for Halloween with our other decorations and be a purple/green that will look cooler with our big spider.

Invisibleghalfrunt / Reddithttps://www.reddit.com/r/ChristmasLights/comments/1hvgewt/

From the author:
Our flashlight code between the windows had a problem every December: his lights were brighter than our flashlights. Two blinks still meant come out. In December you just had to stand right up against the glass to do it.

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A Dad and His Son Put Up Christmas Lights Together for the First Time

https://www.youtube.com/embed/Z32lRtirAiU?start=0&controls=1&rel=0&showinfo=0728360

“Our first time putting up Christmas lights together. A holiday torch is being passed.”

InvisibleHow To Be A Dad / YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z32lRtirAiU

A Christmas Tunnel in the Front Yard, 25 Feet Long With 4,000 Lights

“I built a Christmas tunnel in front of my house, 25 feet long with 4,000 lights.”

InvisibleThe_Pooter / Reddithttps://www.reddit.com/r/christmas/comments/1h5atmv/

A Dad Spent the Whole Day on the Lights While the Blinds Stayed Closed, Then Showed His Kids

https://www.youtube.com/embed/0x8V0kt6XgQ?start=0&controls=1&rel=0&showinfo=0728360

“Three children got an exciting surprise when they saw their father’s finished Christmas light display for the very first time. The festive reveal took place at their home in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, after their dad spent the entire day hanging the decorations.”

InvisibleFOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul / YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0x8V0kt6XgQ

From the author:
My mom left for her night shift at 6:40, and in December his lights were already on when she backed out of the driveway. She told me years later that she checked his roof before she checked the road. A lit roof meant the street was fine, I was fine, and she could go.

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A 4-Year-Old Talked a Parent Into Lights for the First Time and Screwed In Most of the Bulbs

“My 4 year old talked me into putting lights on the house for my first time ever. I think she may have created a monster.”

Lucky for me my daughter loves to help. She picked the pattern and screwed in most of the bulbs.

Invisible_stuntnuts_ / Reddithttps://www.reddit.com/r/ChristmasLights/comments/r8fvac/

Dad’s Red and Green Lights and the Brother Who Kept the Tradition Going for Everyone

Some of our most cherished memories of the holidays have to do with Christmas lights. Dad always put up a lot of red and green lights and as kids it was amazing. There was a Santa on the roof and all the windows and trees were lit up. A few years there was a big V on the roof that looked like a runway for Santa and his sleigh. It always felt so festive and it was so much fun to be that house.

Kyle has kept the tradition going for years now and he does have the beloved responsibility for getting lights up for all of us. It is not his favorite activity, just ask him about my house this year, but he is always there for us.

Invisiblethecornladykaysville / Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/p/C0w5g4jvkjM/

In the last house, the lights went from Dad to the next generation, along with all the complaining. One person climbs up with the lights, and the whole street gets to look at them.

Who in your family is in charge of the Christmas lights? Tell us in the comments.

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