Category: December

All posts created in December.

Many Shades of White: Warm vs Cool LED Christmas Lights

March 2, 2021

You remember learning about the color spectrum years ago in Physical Science 101? Do you also have a dim memory of some guy named “Kelvin”? Before you purchase or add to your Christmas light collection this season, you may want to refresh what you learned about color spectrum, Kelvin, and temperature. If you don’t, you […]

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New Ideas for the New Year

December 29, 2016

New Things to Do on New Year’s If New Year’s Eve celebrations have grown a bit dull, incorporate some (or all) of these ideas from around the world to give your party new life:

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How to Store LED Christmas Lights

December 28, 2016

The holidays are over now and it’s almost time to start taking down those decorations and saving them for next year. Taking some time to properly store your LED Christmas lights and other decorations this year can save you a giant headache next year. Here are some tips and tricks that we’ve found over the […]

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Winter SolsticeTime to Push Back the Darkness

December 22, 2016

“I love the light for it shows me the way. Yet, I endure the darkness for it shows me the stars.” –Og Mandino Winter solstice marks the day with the shortest hours of light and the longest hours of darkness, and officially launches the season of winter. Many of us have already noticed the oppressive […]

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The History and Meaning of Christmas Lights in America

December 15, 2016

The American tradition of decorating evergreen trees, homes, and landscapes, with brightly lit Christmas lights is not as old as many people think. Most of us probably assume that Americans have always used Christmas lights, in one form or another, but this isn’t exactly true. As it turns out, this American tradition has only been […]

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Enlighten Students on the Festival of Lights

December 8, 2016

“Diwali,” “Hanukkah,” “Pasko,” “Kwanzaa,” “Santa Lucia,” “Loi Krathong.” What do all of these unusual words have in common? They are Festivals of Light from cultures around the world-each one using light to celebrate. This is the perfect time of year for children of all ages to learn how different cultures celebrate the Festival of Lights.

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How to Select the Best Lights for Your Indoor Christmas Tree

October 24, 2016

If you are like me, selecting the best Christmas lights for your tree is the least of your concerns. I am generally more concerned with making sure the tree doesn’t fall out of the stand, and that it is reasonably straight. However, there are a lot of choices on the market now for Christmas tree […]

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Christmas Lights from China: the Ethics of Illumination

September 11, 2014

Picture Perfect Holiday Lights? The holiday season is quickly approaching. You’re already picturing the tall pine tree strung with twinkling lights and adorned with your family’s heirloom ornaments. You can see the stacks of presents overtaking the floor space and can nearly smell the Christmas cookies in the oven—ah, the magic of season!

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Photo Essay: 10 Bright Ideas for Holiday Lights

December 23, 2011

When you’re looking to design your holiday displays, one of the best ways to get inspired, is to see what bright ideas other people come up with. With that in mind, here are ten photos from a trip to Seattle’s Candy Cane Lane (along with ideas), that we hope will get your creative juices flowing:

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Best Neighborhood Holiday Light Displays

December 9, 2011

In Seattle, it’s Candy Cane Lane. In Baltimore, it’s Miracle on 34th Street. In Georgia, it’s the village of Avondale Estates. Many cities have them – entire neighborhoods where every house gets on board with over-the-top displays that causes kids’ eyes to pop out of their heads with delight. I was never big on holiday […]

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