We don’t have any long traditions about going out and looking at lights so I’m so anxious to see what other people do. Please comment and share your traditions or link up and let us know what your family does.
I love looking at lights. Honestly, I’m totally amazed at the time that people spend putting lights out. To me, any house can transform into a gingerbread house with Christmas lights. We didn’t really do lights on our house growing up and frankly, I have no intention of being the people with the house with a bunch of lights. It seems like so much work for temporary gain. But again, I’m so thankful others do put in all the work. Mr. McKinney says that growing up putting lights on their house each year was his favorite Christmas tradition.
As we talked this past weekend in the car about traditions we would like to set up for our family, one of them revolves around lights. I call it the jammie jam. But, I really want to set a tradition of putting on Christmas pajamas after dinner and drive through and get hot chocolate (or coffee because the grown-ups are staying up late!) and drive around and look at Christmas lights. There really is something magical about Christmas lights that makes young and old just widen their eyes and soak in the excitement of the season.
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My favorite Christmas light exhibits:
- Lights at the Branson Landing water show
- Growing up we would sometimes stop by Santa Land in East Texas and do a drive-through tour of lights. This year a family has opened Season of Lights in New Boston, TX and we are thinking about taking a trip over just to see them.
- Of course, I love Garvan Woodland Gardens this time of year and miss the annual trek to Hot Springs to wander the gardens and the little treasures hidden along the paths.
- When I lived in Rogers, I’d drive through downtown and pause across the street from the house that is coordinated to music. It creates lines all December. (again, I’m thankful for the people who put in so much time for the rest of us to enjoy).
- And of course, I love the squares in Fayetteville and Bentonville. Mr. McKinney proposed to me the week after Thanksgiving and after he asked me to marry him, we went to see the lights on the Bentonville Square and ate together at Table Mesa, my favorite. Those lights will always make me smile!
For me, Christmas lights create the perfect definition of awe and wonder.
What I do love about Christmas lights is the wonder of the glow they create in your eyes. When I go to look at lights with someone I always look over at their face. I love the profile of the human face in the glow of Christmas lights. This week try an experiment. Go look at Christmas lights with someone. In a non-awkward, non-stalker way, take a glance at their face. The light will twinkle back in their eyes and they will have a smile on their face. You just can’t look at Christmas lights without the glimmer of nostalgia in your eyes. It is one of the special gifts of the holiday season.
- December 1 – What is Advent
- December 2 – Nativity
- December 3 – Lights
- December 4 – Fruitcake
- December 5 – Ornaments
- December 6 – Cards
- December 7 – Smell
- December 8 – Office Party
- December 9 – Gift Exchange
- December 10 – Family Pictures
- December 11 – Stocking Stuffers
- December 12 – Party Food
- December 13 – Favorite Tradition
- December 14 – It’s Christmas when…
- December 15 – Christmas Wear
- December 16 – Christmas Cookie
- December 17 – Christmas Carol/Music
- December 18 – Christmas Charity
- December 19 – Community Traditions
- December 20 – Bah-Humbug
- December 21 – Grown-up Christmas List
- December 22 – Elf on the Shelf
- December 23 – Nostalgia
- December 24 – Christmas Eve
- December 25 – Christmas Day – How will you spend the big day – where will you be? Who will you be with? What’s on your mind?
- December 26 – Dreams for the Year Ahead
