Saturday, December 4, 2010

Don't be afraid of color.

Every year the great debate begins among women in the office, at the cafe or rummaging the sale aisles at the local department stores - colored lights or white lights? If you are not from the Christian tradition (or America), this debate may not make a whole lot of sense to you.

See - this is the week when most people put up their Christmas tree. I see more and more of the "real trees" disappearing from the corner parking lots, and the Christmas decorations are becoming more and more sparse in the stores. One of the biggest debates in Christmas decor history is - WHITE OR COLOR.

Basically, many will argue that white lights are classic, more refined. I would say that the majority of people I know stick to the white lights. I am really not sure when this became the "rule" - I remember as a child (in the 70's,) most people had a wide variety of color.

I recently had a conversation with a co-worker and she was telling me how she and her husband had a little disagreement over the color of lights. See - it is their first Christmas as a married couple, and they are working out their personal preferences, and the topic of colored versus white or (clear) lights came up. SHE wants white, HE wants colored. Of course, she won.

I jokingly advised that if they wanted to, have clear lights for the tree in the living room, and colored for a smaller tree in the family room. See - problem solved!

I do find white/clear lights to be beautiful. Reminds me of a starry night. However.. I LIKE the colored lights. Why? It reminds me of childhood. I like the whimsy and I am not afraid to stand proud by my colored lights.

I think as far as children are concerned, they are more drawn to the colorful lights, and to me  - Christmas embraces your childlike enthusiasm.

(Neither of these pictures are of my home or trees...)

So, the question I pose to you today is - Colored or White? And why?

"Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time." ~Laura Ingalls Wilder

9 comments:

Unknown said...

Ah yes, the great debate. I like white, but as a kid (until about 13) we always did color. I just like the way white lights look. Next year we will probably get KLV her own little tree and then it can be all crazy with color. For now, I'll be doing white lights with red ornaments.

Cristina said...

we have been doing white lights... but last year I decided that for this year I would want colored lights... it will be more fun for the kids AND it's a little less serious, right? I don't want our tree to be serious, I want it to be fun :)

Doris said...

I think like everything else, the color of Christmas lights are a trend. I noticed a few years back a lot of people started doing their houses ALL in white lights (I guess to maybe immitate snow and icicles?). Personally, I totally LOVE multi-colored (not just one color like blue on a white tree, etc.). Growing up, we always had those BIGGGGG colored bulbs (you know, the fire hazard ones lol) and it just looked so pretty when all the lights were turned off and all the different colors reflected off the ornaments and the presents.

Ruby said...

I have white right now, not the LED ones, when the current strands die I shall go colored as I do not like or react well ( headaches!) to the bright blue/white tone of the LEDs. I am fine with either.

Anonymous said...

At both my parents' houses we always had colored lights on the tree. I've always felt the white were more for outside the house decorations. I love how they do it here in NYC, so beautiful! But inside it should be colored.

I don't know why I think this way, it's just the way I see it.

Carol said...

You are so right..we had the big colored bulbs. They were so cool.

I do what you suggested. We have the one big tree in the family room and then I have my Grandchildren's tree in the dining room with colored lights and children's ornaments. Solves the problem well.

Carol-the gardener

Carol said...

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Carol-the gardener

Laura said...

White lights on the tree - that way you can see the beauty of the ornaments a little better. Color lights outside (we've finally made the switch to all LED color lights) and we love them.

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