The debate that has ignited us through the ages: When should Christmas lights get taken down?
By Madhurima Haque|
It's the eternal debate plaguing Aussies through the ages ¨C when do Christmas lights have to come down?
Some eager homeowners will get them down on Boxing Day, while this author has been astounded by the sight of them still being lit up in February.
We took the question to the nine.com.au team to see what their consensus is.
Senior Features Writer Maddison Leach is practical in her decision: ?"I always take my Christmas lights down in the first week of January, purely because I have to do it before I go back to work or they'll never get taken down."
Senior 9Travel Producer Jemima Skelley grew up with an adorable rule: "My mum's rule is that they have to come down 12 days after Christmas, like the 12 days of Christmas but in reverse."
9Travel Editor Kristine Tarbert follows her German ancestors' wisdom when it comes to Christmas decorations.
"Switch on for Christmas lights is December 1 and they get turned off after New Years ¨C we usually pack Christmas things away by January 6," she explained.
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"In Germany this was celebrated as Three Kings' Day and sort of marked the end of the Christmas story."
"Christmas lights need to come down BEFORE New Year's Eve in my house," Senior Features Writer Jo Abi declared.
Nine.com.au? Afternoon Editor Serena Seyfort says, "I am by no means a grinch, but for some reason I hate Christmas decorations up after Christmas. I take them down by the 27th?."
Audience Editor Jess Chandra gave some more leeway, saying, "?I think they're acceptable until the first week of January. That way your house still has some festive cheer through the New Year period."
9Product reviews content producer Siena Hocking shared, "Since moving to Australia I haven't really done much Christmas decor, but usually at home when I go back for Christmas with my parents etc, they'd be put up around December 20 and taken down by Jan?uary 3."
There's another reason why you should consider taking down the lights sooner rather than later.?
According to Happy Beds resident sleep psychologist Dr Katherine Hall?, your Christmas lights could be the reason for your broken slumber this time of year.
"?Being exposed to intense, bright, or flashing lights before bedtime is a sleep hygiene faux pas. The dazzling lights we all love during the festive season send the wrong signal to your brain, disrupting melatonin production and hindering your sleep-wake cycle," she said.
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So whether it's the lights on your tree, or ones on the exterior of houses in your neighbourhood, giving yourself some Christmas-light free time before bed is a good idea.
"?Allow melatonin production to follow its natural circadian rhythm by turning off blue, multi-coloured, or flashing lights two hours before bedtime. This promotes a smoother transition to sleep and enhances overall sleep quality," Dr Hall said.
However, some lights are worse for impacting sleep than others such as blue lights, which, just like the blue light from our phones, is too stimulating for pre-bedtime, as are flashing lights.
Multi-coloured lights are also a problem because they disrupt melatonin production, which we need to regulate our sleep-cycle.?
"?It's like having a mini light show before bedtime ¨C charming, but not conducive to a restful night's sleep," Hall explained.
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