WA Advent Calendar 2025 - Friday 12th December

byGail-UK

3.8K followers

4 days ago

Welcome again to Day 12! Only 12 more days to go to the big night, so we're halfway through our Advent calendar journey.

Today, we have a bit of an eclectic mix - some things can be old and traditional, and others, really modern. Today we have Christmas lights and decorations in our calendar.

There’s something wonderfully joyful about walking down a street in December and seeing houses absolutely glowing. Some people put up a tasteful string of warm white fairy lights, traditional lanterns, wreaths and Christmas trees to add to the season's cheer...

And others… well… (I'm not judging you understand)... but others can create a full-scale illumination event visible from space even when the lights are turned off!

Every neighbourhood has at least one! You know them. The one who climbs the roof every year, armed with 200 metres of lights, a plastic reindeer, a singing Santa, and a newly purchased inflatable snowman that threatens to take flight in a strong breeze!

And then, of course, there’s the neighbour who claims not to be competitive… but mysteriously adds more lights every time the house next door upgrades theirs.

Maybe I'm describing you! LOL!

Each to their own, I say, but I'm sticking to my tinsel around the door and a homemade wreath!

Why do we love the lights so much?

Christmas lights change the atmosphere. They soften the dark evenings, they lift the mood, they make children (and adults) smile, and they add a little sparkle to a time of year when most of us need it. They’re a reminder that even in the darker months, we can create our own brightness.

And some of the most fantastic displays do it for charity, and people donate as they visit.

But it's not just homeowners who decorate their properties with lights.

Many town centres put up seasonal light decorations (The Blackpool Illuminations are a famous example) See: https://www.visitblackpool.com/things-to-do/blackpool-illuminations/, although these are not strictly Christmas-only lights.

Other towns often have celebrity-studded 'switch-on' celebrations to attract people to the town centres and shops in the run-up to Christmas.

Outdoor light shows

Over the past decade, outdoor Christmas light shows have grown from small local displays to major winter attractions across the UK. What used to be a few twinkling trees and a Santa’s grotto has transformed into full immersive experiences featuring light tunnels, animated projections, synchronised music, themed walk-throughs and giant illuminated sculptures.

Places like Kew Gardens, Blenheim Palace, Edinburgh Botanics and regional stately homes now attract hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, turning Christmas light trails into one of the fastest-growing seasonal events.

For many families, these shows have become a new annual tradition and I can tell you that they are lots of fun. They give you a chance to wrap up warm, get outside and wander through glowing pathways and enjoy a dose of midwinter magic long before Christmas Day arrives. It’s a lovely reminder that even the darkest months can be made bright with a bit of creativity, community spirit and several miles of LED cable.

And there are usually plenty of stalls selling mulled wine and mince pies too.

Here is a montage of images I took last year when we went to one of these outdoor light trails at Polesden Lacey near where I live.

So whether your idea of festive décor is:
• a small display around a window,
• a glowing tree you can see from the road,
• or a full North Pole re-enactment complete with sleigh parking…

…there’s room for all kinds of Christmas magic.

And remember, if your neighbour adds an extra 300 twinkling lights this year, it’s not a competition!

Except, of course, it absolutely is...

Enjoy,

Gail