Holiday Light Debate - White Vs. Multicolor

by Jennifer Jordan (Subscribe to Jennifer Jordan's posts) Dec 25th 2008 11:02AM

Categories: Fun & Activities, Holidays, Chores

OK, so now for a little bit of fodder. I was listening to the radio--yes, again, while stuck in traffic, AGAIN!--the other day and they were "debating" the merits of having only white lights on the Christmas tree versus using multi-color lights to adorn them. I'm not sure which side won the argument, but it was funny to listen to people who called in drum up reasons for why they thought their decorative approach was best.

When I was a kid, we put up multi-color lights, on the tree and in the windows. We had those giant glass lights that, when they broke, were actually pretty dangerous. They also got really hot and I learned to never, ever touch them once they'd been on for more than a minute. So did my dad. Later we moved on to blinking lights, especially those for the windows, but they were multi-colored as well.

As an adult with my own home and my own tree, I go back and forth with what I think looks best. I long for the nostalgia of the different color lights but also appreciate the crisp and elegant effect of the all-white approach. People who called in said the color lights were tacky. Others found the white lights boring. Some said they switched back and forth every other year to placate members of the family with differing tastes. Some said they did only one color, but that it was never white, in order to appease everyone.

No one mentioned whether or not they left those lights up year-round (which for some reason some people consider tacky).

What do you say? White lights or multi-color? Or, hey, why not both???

Comments (10)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

ninainindia 12-25-2008 @ 12:05PM

I dislike the coloured lights a lot, I'm one of the people that finds them tacky and just plain ugly.

Uly 12-25-2008 @ 12:12PM

Holidays aren't supposed to be about style and class. Colored lights all the way.

Joy 12-25-2008 @ 12:47PM

I'm am in the multi colored group. I find it much more festive. I used to do the outline of my house (outside) all in blue. I can live with any other color but I find clear to be very boring and they remind me of an old folks home. I'm not so sure why I don't care for them but I just don't. I also find the term "tacky" to be offensive. They're Christmas lights.

I don't leave them up all year. I thought I'd be smart one year and leave them all in the big tree's outside and the squirrels ate through all the wires. I take my tree down tomorrow but will leave the outdoor decorations on until the end of Jan.

Clarissa 12-26-2008 @ 1:39AM

White lights are boring and plain and not at all festive. I use nothing but multi-colored lights.

My tree went up Thanksgiving night and will come down Jan. 1st.

Kirstie 12-26-2008 @ 5:50PM

We do colored lights at my house, but we try to keep it tasteful! Using all white lights IS boring, but if you accent it with green and red lights it really can look beautiful and quite classy.

Our tree goes up about a week before Christmas (mostly because that's when I come home from school to do it!) and stays up until Jan. 6.

Melissa 12-26-2008 @ 1:07PM

White lights ARE boring....when I opened up the new tree we bought (last year after Chritsmas at 75% off, thank you), it had only white lights on it....the box said it was multi!! I was so disappointed, but I just threw some multi colored lights on it and it worked perfectly! I only have colored lights outside the house, I would never put white lights out there....I don't know, it's just boring....and you can't be tacky at Christmas time, btw, it's not possible lol....

Bridget Taylor 12-29-2008 @ 1:23PM

I love colored lights and for years had those big, hot outdoor and indoor tree lights that would burn you if you touched them. Then I got the itch for clear lights and last year on after Christmas clearance bought a prelit tree in clear. Now I regret the clear bulbs and have decided next year to string multicolor bulbs along with the clear on the tree. I miss the old fashioned Christmas decorations and plan on going back to the "old ways" and I don't give a care if anyone else thinks I'm being tacky... how can you be tacky at Christmas? Impossible! It's whatever the individual LIKES .. period!

Kathy 12-29-2008 @ 8:44PM

Before pre-lit trees, I enjoyed both multi colored and white lights on my tree. Today, you can only buy either multi (which does not include white) or white. I like both!! Can somebody out there make a pre-lit with both!
I use both on the outside also.

D 12-30-2008 @ 11:41AM

Just a word of caution for those writing that they are adding lights to their trees. The manual that came with our prelit tree had an explicit warning to not add any additional lights. I'm not sure why it would matter but still thought I'd pass along this word of caution.

eyemissnyc 12-30-2008 @ 12:07PM

I like the white lights, always have. I don't know why. I think the colored lights are too busy... The white lights look cleaner, more elegant. My christmas tree this year was baby blue and white metallic bows and all my ornaments are either glass or crystal.. Everyone loves it ! My boyfriend wants colored lights next year but it's not gonna happen ! lol...

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