OMG My neighbor has his Christmas lights on! wha-huh?

[Silence Dogood]

I haven't had a bite of Turkey yet and the people next door are decorating for Christmas.

Come to think of it, they kept their Christmas decorations up until St. Patrick's Day last year. The sparkly dangles that look like icicles were hanging haphazardly, looking more like the result of a house mugging. Ragged jewelry un-bedecked by spring winds and rain, until he finally took them down.

Oh, well- Maybe by Valentines Day this year, he'll have a heart and take down the forlorn eye candy.

Funny how little things can irritate when I guess, I shouldn't be complaining at all.

[Lucinda]

1. I live in a touristy world of verrrrrrrry early Christmas lights

I feel your pain.

[Harmonicaman]

2. Lightweight

One on a street near me never took them down from last year and switched them on again last wednesday

[Silence Dogood]

14. Just looked out the window again-

Thinking they are doing an Italian theme this year. There are three Christmas trees in the front yard. One decorated in red lights, another in green and the third in white lights. I'm hoping he doesn't need the Fire Dept again this year to help him down from his roof. Last year, he was trying to install a Santa climbing into the chimney, when he started experiencing vertigo. I'm laughing but it wasn't funny. The poor man was scared to death. His wife was standing out front threatening him to please come down. The whole neighborhood came out in force. We were out there so long, a neighbor started passing out cups of Hot Chocolate.

The Fire Dept finally arrived pointing those huge industrial strength spot lights up on the roof. A Fireman maneuvered around in a cherry picker asking the fellow to throw a leg over and get in with him. I thought the poor guy was going to faint. The Rescue arrived and took him off to the ER. Later his wife said he should have taken his medication before attempting to place Santa in the quintessential pose of Christmas Eve.

[saltpoint]

3. Yep. When Iowa moved its caucus up to January 3rd, it pushed Christmas

up to November 24th -- 2 days following Thanksgiving.

St. Nick is kind of a competitive guy. He likes being first in line.

[Mike03]

4. Same here

I was walking my dog today and passed three different houses where people were putting up their Christmas lights and decorations.

It doesn't really bother me, but to me it signifies a certain desperation or maybe gullibility, I can't tell which. My mother is also getting into Christmas very early this year, and I know in her case she is just trying to combat depression, which is probably why I would do it myself.

[Lindsey]

8. Yea, I know the feeling. I live in an apt. attached to a house and my

landlord had the decorations up TWO WEEKS AGO!!!!!!!!!!!! I almost died when I got home from work one day and there were the lights, the reindeer in the front lawn, on and on......

[NanceGreggs]

5. Here in Toronto ...

... we have all accepted the fact that there must be a city bylaw in effect, to whit: Once you have hung 'icicle' Christmas lights, they must remain on your house forever.

Every year, I see another neighbour or two putting them up - I have yet to see anyone ever take them down.

They just stay there through all seasons, dangling like barbed-wire, the residents now inmates serving a life sentence of being perceived as lazy and/or ridiculous.

[Mojambo]

6. I just had to sit through a 18 piece tuba choir playing 2 hours of Christmas music

Quite the way to have your holiday music cherry popped.

[CookCountyResident]

16. Why?

Why did you HAVE to sit through the tuba concert? Was somebody holding a gun to your head?

[Mojambo]

18. There's a music stage about 30 feet behind where I work all day. n/t

[mrigirl]

7. I can see maybe stringing them up early- say next weekend w/o lighting them at nite

but your neighbor's seriously is fast forwarding the holidays! I actually saw on my way home from work last week another house w/ it's X-mas lights on and I just laughed.

[tularetom]

9. Why do you hate America?

That's actually what my son's neighbor told him last march when he asked him when he was gonna take down his ugly friggin christrmas lights. I guess he's right - the right to leave your christmas shit up all year is I think guaranteed by the 44th amendment to the constitution.

Actually I plan to put up my lights tomorrow. I'm a spy in the war on Christmas and the lights are part of my cover.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

10. A blonde haired, blue eyed guy learns about "Diwali"...

...I live in Silicon Valley CA, which has a very large Indian population.

A few years ago I saw a multitude of Christmas lights on homes and apartments well outside of the Christmas season. I thought "huh?"

So then I learned about Diwali:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwali

Diwali, or Deepawali, (also called Tihar and Swanti in Nepal) (Markiscarali) is a major Indian and Nepalese festive holiday, and a significant festival in Hinduism and some of the other faiths which originated in India - Jainism and Sikhism. It originated as a harvest festival, marking the last harvest of the year before winter. In an agrarian society this results in businessmen closing accounts, and beginning a new accounting year. The deity of wealth in Hinduism, Goddess Lakshmi is therefore thanked on this day and everyone prays for a good year ahead. This is the common factor in Diwali celebrations all over the Indian subcontinent. With time, many legends became associated with Diwali, and today it is celebrated by Hindus, Jains and Sikhs across the globe as the "Festival of Light," where the lights or lamps signify victory of good over the evil within every human being. The festival is also celebrated by Buddhists of Nepal, particularly the Newar Buddhists.

The Sanskrit word Deepavali means an array of lights that stands for victory of brightness over darkness. As the knowledge of Sanskrit diminished, the name was popularly modified to Diwali, especially in northern India. The word "Divali/Diwali" is a corruption of the Sanskrit word "Deepavali" (also transliterated as "Dipavali"). Deepa/dipa means "light of the dharma", and avali means "a continuous line". The more literal translation is "rows of clay lamps".

Of the many legends, the most popular association in Northern India is the homecoming of King Rama of Ayodhya after a 14-year exile in the forest. The people of Ayodhya (the capital of his kingdom) welcomed Rama by lighting rows (avali) of lamps (deepa), thus its name, Deepawali, or simply shortened as Diwali.

Southern India marks it as the day Lord Krishna defeated the demon Narakasura. In western India it is also in honor of the day King Bali went to rule the nether-world by the order of Vishnu. (There is another festival 'Onam' which is celebrated in Kerala around the month of August to mark this legend)

In Jainism it marks the nirvana of Lord Mahavira, which occurred on Oct. 15, 527 B.C.

The Sikhs have always celebrated Diwali, however its significance increased historically when on this day the Sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind Ji, was freed from imprisonment along with 52 Hindu Kings (political prisoners) whom he had arranged to be released as well. These prisoners were all released at the same time from the famous fort of Gwalior by Emperor Jahangir in October, 1619. Since the kings were also freed, Guru Ji became known popularly as the "Bandi Chhorh" (deliverer from prison). He arrived at Amritsar on Diwali, and the HarMandar Sahib (the "Golden Temple") was lit with hundreds of lamps in celebration. For Sikhs, this day was thereafter known as the "Bandi Chhorh Divas" (the day of freedom).

In India, Diwali is now considered to be a national festival, and the aesthetic aspect of the festival is enjoyed by most Indians regardless of faith.

Also called Translation: Row of Lights; Deepavali, Festival of Lights
Observed by Religiously by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains. Other Indians celebrate the cultural aspects.
Type Religious, Indian
Significance Celebrate victory over evil, and uplifting of spiritual darkness/
Date New moon day of Kartika, although the celebrations begin two days prior and end two days after that date
2006 date October 21
2007 date November 9
2008 date October 30
Celebrations Decorating homes with lights, Fireworks, distributing sweets and gifts.
Observances Prayers, Religious rituals (see puja, prasad)

[Silence Dogood]

15. Hey, if it has to do with Nirvana- I'm in!

Thanks for posting a most interesting narrative. I love hearing about how other cultures celebrate their customs for their holidays. A celebration of life. It is things like this that make our country the richest tapestry of people in the world.

Something I really miss feeling with the current regime.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

17. Yes, it's very cool...

...I am a member of the Bank Of America Small Business Community Web Site, and someone recently posted a "How are you planning to celebrate Diwali" thread, and it got a zillion responses.

It's all one world, folks...just one.

[Silence Dogood]

19. Thanks- Amerigo

I didn't know the BOA had a Small Business Community Web Site. I will be happy to pass that info along to my co workers.

Thank you for posting all this great information- perhaps because of my neighbor, I will look more kindly on his decorating timelines.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

20. Link to BOA site:

http://smallbusinessonlinecommunity.bankofamerica.com/i...

An excellent community, an excellent resource, and one that I highly recommend. It is absolutely NOT an infomercial for Bank of America. Check it out and I'm sure you'll agree.

[Silence Dogood]

25. Awesome, and thanks again-

[RFKHumphreyObama]

30. When I lived in SE Asia

It used to be celebrated widely among the Indian population and we even did a school project on its origins at one stage which I've still got somewhere. I can remember going to Deepawali celebrations at the houses of some of my friends and have some very fond memories of that time

[madmom]

11. they've been playing christmas music at work since the day after halloween...aarrrg!!!

[FormerDittoHead]

12. It's the war on Xmas, and the best defense is a good offense! n/t

[AlCzervik]

13. hah, i have a neighbor that never took theirs down from last year.

[MadMaddie]

21. Lights already up on the Eastside of Seattle!!

[Divine Discontent]

22. no, I feel your pain.. lol

I cannot stand to barely go in stores now because they act like it's December. It's not even a week before THANKSGIVING as of this moment, and it's been this way for weeks!

[sufrommich]

23. If you live in the colder climes..

and ever put your lights up during the winter when the temp is 12 and you have to break the icicles before hanging can commence,it's easy to understand why some people get out there while the weather is still decent.I've been there and vowed it would never happen again.lol

[Silence Dogood]

24. Whats the temp in your neck of the woods?

Tonight, the local weather said they see an Alberta Clipper coming. The temp is about 38F and it is quite chilly out there. I hope the homeless find shelter. Not a night to fool with for anyone sleeping outdoors.

[sufrommich]

31. It's pretty balmy here in southern Michigan,

relatively speaking.High 40s. Lots of people raking up the leaves this week.

[Divine Discontent]

27. that's a very valid argument

but they should leave them off until Thanksgiving! lol... but yeah, who wants to put up lights on a building when it's 15 degrees out... so true.

[KoKo]

26. One of my neighbors put up a Giant Blow Up North Pole with Santa

and Reindeer with a spotlight on it! Problem with those "Blow Ups" is that they spring leaks. Last year someone had a Santa on his rooftop and every couple of days it would sag and Santa would fold down ready to fall and the next time I rode by he'd be puffed up again. I never could figure out how they blew it back up. They'd have to crawl out their attic window with a bicycle pump every couple of days and that didn't look easy to do. (Maybe it was elves that did it)

[alphafemale]

29. Those things are hideous. Hate them. nt

[Sparkly]

28. The War on Christmas starts earlier every year.

Pre-emptive strike?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

32. Christmas lights are up all over my neighborhood, too.

I sort of wonder whether people aren't decorating already just to cheer themselves up, what with everything else being pretty sucky these days.

[Deja Q]

33. Same here. Only one house so far, but why not?

Some people never take them down...