Ugly Christmas Lights
For those of you who share my belief that holiday lights are getting out of control in the U.S., check out the Tacky Light Tour and Ugly Christmas Lights.com. Don’t worry…there’s still time to submit a photo to the Ugly Christmas Lights Contest.
Some interesting holiday-related facts and figures from the U.S. Census Bureau:
Christmas Trees and Decorations
$512 million
The gross earnings of Christmas tree farmers in 2006, with North Carolina ($134 million) as the top producer. Oregon was next at $121 million in sales. Source: USDA Economic Research Service <http://www.ers.usda.gov/data/FarmIncome/receipts/2000_06/CR0006US.xls>$249 million
Christmas tree sales of the 17 surveyed states in 2006, with Oregon as the top seller. Note that only growers with at least $10,000 in annual sales were surveyed. Source: USDA Floriculture and Nursery Corps Yearbook
<http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/flo/2007/09Sep/FLO2007.pdf>$142.6 million
The value of U.S. imports of Christmas tree ornaments from China between January and June 2007. China was the leading country of origin for such items. Similarly, China was the leading foreign source of artificial Christmas trees shipped to the United States ($13.4 million worth) during the same period.
Source: Foreign Trade Statistics <http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www/>Hanukkah and Kwanzaa
Nearly one-half
Proportion of the nation’s spuds produced in Idaho and Washington in 2006. Potato latkes are always a crowd pleaser during Hanukkah.
Source: National Agriculture Statistics Service <http://www.nass.usda.gov/>$1.3 billion
The value of product shipments of candles in 2002 by the nation’s manufacturers. Many of these candles are lit during Hanukkah and Kwanzaa celebrations.
Source: 2002 Economic Census
<http://www.census.gov/econ/census02/guide/SUBSUMM.HTM>$161 million
The value of product shipments of candles in 2002 by manufacturers in Texas. The Lone Star State led the country in candle shipments.
Source: 2002 Economic Census at <http://www.census.gov/econ/census02/guide/SUBSUMM.HTM>
And what would the holidays be without that well-known Christmas Lights Video?
Christmas lights in Tokyo, Japan
Of course, for families separated during the holidays, it’s reassuring to know Japan also has Christmas lights.
Hiroshima, Japan Dreamination
Learn about Christmas in Japan from About.com; visit the Top 10 Holiday Illuminations in Japan; and read Christmas worldwide: Japan from Wikipedia.
Of course, only the Japanese would use an electric eel to power Christmas lights!
An electric eel is giving the power to light Christmas lights on a tree at the Aqua Toto Gifu aquarium.
Merry Christmas, Carolyn!
Dec 12, 2007 @ 09:28:50
I have just enough energy to string lights around my Christmas tree. I don’t know how these fanatics find the time or the energy.
Sep 30, 2008 @ 14:14:25
How could you call that ugly? I know it’s over the top but I’m pretty sure the lights covering the house on the title picture are in my hometown. It’s a man who lost his daughter and does it every year in her memory because she loved Christmas lights so much. So cheer up a little. I was just waiting to see a “bah humbug” somewhere in there!
Oct 23, 2008 @ 03:12:52
These houses though over the top bring joy to so many people…with the exception of the neighbors LOL. Alex maybe right saying he does this in memory of his daughter. There was a guy in my state that had the largest light display in the state of CT for YEARS!!!!!! And it was in memory of his son. People would drive from all over the state and for many it was a Christmas tradition in the family to do this. Folks who do these houses are not doing it because they think its tacky or ugly and most times they aren’t doing it for there own happiness but the happiness of ours. I went to a house like this visiting family in NY and the home owners were collecting funds for a local toy drive…instead of collecting for their light bill or to recover the cost of the lights themselves…take time to enjoy all the Christmas season has to offer…its only here for about a month.
Nov 23, 2008 @ 09:32:10
I love christmas lights and I thinks it is cool what he dose
Nov 28, 2008 @ 08:25:32
grinch
Nov 30, 2008 @ 04:39:28
Alex, Donald, Austin & Maria, thanks for your comments.
And while I have been accused of being a grinch, we always enjoy driving around town to visit the holiday displays.
~MadSilence
Dec 24, 2008 @ 05:53:05
nice christmas
Apr 07, 2009 @ 15:07:55
c’est du bon boulot mes c’est trop!!!!!!!!