Holiday Light Etiquette
MosquitoNix® Shares Christmas Light Etiquette
Hanging Christmas lights is a great way to show off your holiday spirit and make your house dazzling. This process can be incredibly time-consuming and frustrating, so there may be a part of you that wants to get this done as soon as possible - and when the weather is nice. Not that we would ever want to tell someone when to put up their lights-they bring the most joy of the season after all-but if you have close neighbors, you may need to listen up. Believe it or not, but there is some Christmas light etiquette that you'll need to adhere to.
Hopefully, you already know that hanging your Christmas lights in the middle of July is a no-no, but if you want to avoid being "that neighbor" that everyone talks about, MosquitoNix® is here to help with a holiday light etiquette guide. We'll walk you through the basics of when and where to hang your holiday lights so all you spread is cheer and not annoyance.
1. Hang Your Lights up After Thanksgiving
This one should go without saying, but in case you didn't already know, it's best to wait until after Thanksgiving to hang your holiday lights. We know you would much prefer to hang your lights when the weather is nice, but doing so goes against Christmas light etiquette. Generally speaking, the closer to Christmas you hang your lights, the better.
If the weather becomes an issue and you are worried about your safety, then call in professionals to help with this endeavor. Not only will you be adhering to the etiquette, but you also won't have to worry about putting yourself at risk to make your house look good.
2. Take Your Lights Down Before the End of January
Traditionally, Christmas decorations should be down after New Year's Day but before January 6th. If you live in an area that's prone to snow and can't take your lights down because of ice, turning them off or unplugging them should suffice. People will wonder what you are doing with lights still up in March, and might ask if you need help taking them down.
Again, if safety or time is a concern, call in the professionals to take down your holiday lights in a timely fashion.
3. Avoid Having Lights Shine in Your Neighbor's Windows
Does your neighbor's living room face the side of your house? You might want to avoid putting lights near their window; otherwise, your holiday display will quickly go from festive to annoying. If you're not sure if your light display is causing problems, ask and avoid a potential problem. It's something you might not initially think about when moving into a home with close neighbors, but if you do, do your part to stay on the nice list.
4. Put Your Lights on a Timer to Save Power and to Keep the Peace
There aren't that many people driving around in the middle of the night to check out Christmas lights, so you can save some money by putting your lights on a timer. You'll also avoid irritating your neighbors because the only people that are going to see them at 1 a.m. are the people in your neighborhood. This will also keep your electric bill costs down, so it's really for your own benefit as well.
5. Be Mindful of Your Large Decorations
Blow-up decorations, animated decorations and light-up wire decorations are fun, but they can also block views and make it difficult for your neighbors to get out of their driveway or drive down the road. Be mindful of where you place your large embellishments. Make sure nothing blocks the way for the mailman or delivery person either, especially if you live in a snowy area.
6. Keep Your Decorations Tasteful
Everyone likes to have fun around the holidays, but if your holiday scenes are going to be seen by little eyes, they need to be tasteful. Make sure anything you put in your front yard is PG and that you wouldn't be embarrassed by if a three-year-old saw it. Tacky, distasteful décor is a sure way to make your neighbors angry. Save that stuff for the inside of your home!
7. Tackle Problems Head-On
If your neighbors approach you about your lights, be ready to tackle the problem the minute you hear about it. If a light is shining in their window, take it down. If a holiday decoration is blocking their view, move it. The holidays are meant to be fun and bring out the best in everyone, and your décor can accommodate your neighbors while still being spectacular. Make the season cheery and bright, not grumpy and grinchy.
Keep Help with Your Holiday Lights
Holiday light etiquette isn't difficult or complicated. Use common sense when you hang your holiday lights and only display them during the appropriate season. If you do this, you won't have any problems with your neighbors, so you'll still be invited to the block party when the weather warms up again.
While you don't have to follow every rule-we're looking at holiday lights going up the second spooky season is over-there are quite a few that should be followed to be respectful of those in your neighborhood. If you have close neighbors who will be affected by your lights, think about placement and brightness before you put the ladder away.
At MosquitoNix, we can help with all of your light hanging endeavors. We'll abide by the etiquette and ensure that your display looks amazing. Give us a call today!
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