Christmas light post question

Old Dec 21st, 2004, 07:54 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Christmas light post question

I found this post on an old thread (2003) and was wondering if anyone could offer some additional information on London Christmas light displays.


"Also, there is a certain neighborhood (Can't remember what now) in which each street competes in having the most beautiful light display... tailored to the common visitors of that street..."
mcmomx4 is offline  
Old Dec 21st, 2004, 08:24 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 17,268
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Whoever said that must've been ODing on the sherry trifle. Or forgetting to flame the brandy on the Christmas pud.

We don't do street competitions. In anything

Sounds like the sort of thing travelogues about Chirpy Cockneys invent. And the post you mention is more than second hand: the poster concerned has never been here in winter, but claims the show she saw says "the entire city lights up" Claptrap. There are lots of decorations around. But far more streets don't have them than do.

What does happen in the less genteel suburbs is that some individual families increasingly compete for the most over-the-top external decorations. It's virtually unknown in the central core (though there are two externally decorated houses in the street that runs parallel to London Street, outside Paddington Station). Even the most enthusiastic competitors would hardly use the word "beautiful" for the result. You'd really need a car to visit them painlessly - and if you're American, you'd see far better in any US suburb. Even downtown Hoboken has more of this stuff than practically all of London put together.

Don't believe travelogues. And believe even fewer posters with vague memories of travelogues they can't name.
flanneruk is offline  
Old Dec 21st, 2004, 08:55 AM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 17,268
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
That post might have been unfairly dismissive.

In the centre - which means the main shopping streets, like Regent Stand Oxford St - lights are sponsored and commissioned separately by each street that does lights. In that sense,I suppose a travelogue producer would say they compete. But they don't.
flanneruk is offline  
Old Dec 22nd, 2004, 09:48 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 640
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hi,

If it IS the commercial light displays that you are looking for, try this website, which has lots of information and links on the subject:

http://www.newwestend.com/christmas/

happy holidays...
KidsToLondon is offline  
Old Dec 22nd, 2004, 11:24 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,919
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
They seem to get duller every year, though. Oxford Street seems to have decided to go for searchlights sweeping the sky this year, which I find distinctly un-Christmassy.
PatrickLondon is offline  
Old Dec 24th, 2004, 02:04 AM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 181
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Patrick in my opining the Oxford Street 'lights' are the worst EVER. Very disappointing.
JimSteel is offline  
Old Dec 24th, 2004, 03:57 AM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,256
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I think people here in Northern Ireland are competing for the worst Christmas light displays. I prefer the days when people just put a candle in the window. They just have not figured out how to do nice light displays over here.
Ann41 is offline  
Old Dec 24th, 2004, 06:32 AM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 215
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Just seen pictures of the guy in Florida with what looks like every single electric Christmas decoration in his front yard. Is he for real and where can I buy shares in the electric company he is using!?

Oh and nobody I know likes the Oxford Street lasers,
adamhornets is offline  
Old Dec 24th, 2004, 07:48 AM
  #9  
vcl
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 499
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
While our daughter was out shopping, our son-on-law and grandchildren decorated a tree in front of their home with 1,200 red lights.

Our daughter retaliated by telling the children that Santa puts red lights on the trees of the homes he's already visited so he knows not to come back.

Fortunately, the twinkle in her eyes can be spotted from a mile away.
vcl is offline  
Old Dec 24th, 2004, 10:33 PM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,755
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Very clever, vcl. Sounds like a story you should post in the Reader's Digest! tee hee
Huitres is offline  
Old Dec 27th, 2004, 03:46 PM
  #11  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,414
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I agree, Oxford was pretty dull with the search lights. Regent was at least very bright. The tree in Trafalgar was big but otherwise uninteresting.

Bill
wojazz3 is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
ayla
Europe
9
Dec 19th, 2006 02:49 PM
Katie7
Europe
13
Nov 23rd, 2005 04:50 AM
cookiehead
Europe
26
Oct 16th, 2005 01:59 AM
mcmomx4
Europe
6
Dec 9th, 2004 01:34 PM
JoeCal
Europe
5
Sep 23rd, 2004 03:31 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -