When I was a small child, more than 70 years ago, few people had electric lights on their Christmas trees. We had trees with baubles, and they seemed enough.
Electric lights on the tree became fashionable and affordable. Electric lights outside became fashionable and affordable. Still lights, white lights, coloured lights and multi-coloured-frenetic-flashers have become affordable and fashionable.
I hope I am not a Scrooge. I don’t say, “Bah, humbug” to all Christmas celebration and merriment, but I wish the CPRE and the Wildlife Trusts would have a word with central Government, and cause a reduction in the light pollution which doesn’t do any favours to the other creatures which share the earth with human beings.
If someone wants to put up Christmas lights which fastly, fastly flash all colours, I think they should be able to do that in the privacy of their own houses and flash all day long to their hearts’ content, with the curtains drawn, but not outside, in my eyes, or anyone else’s.
There are very tasteful Christmas lights and there are abominable Christmas lights. There are also enjoyable Christmasses without permanent outside lights at all.
Frances Richardson
Surfleet
- Breaking News
