Why do Brits live in darkness except for December?

[Swedegirl48]

I am Swedish and at home if you walk down a street, most houses will have lamps in some of the windows, outside lights and usually people don’t draw curtains so you can see the lights from within the houses. I was asking British DH today why Brits tend to light up their houses so enthusiastically in December, but the rest of the year people draw their curtains and no one seems to put lamps in the windows (at least not where we live which is London). I am the only person in my street who has a lamp in every window of my house and leave some on overnight too. I think I am trying to overcompensate for my very dark street.

Light pollution is a thing...

Council cuts

Electricity costs

Many people can't afford to keep the lights on all year round, the cost of living is biting and it's a waste of money leaving lights on when you're asleep.

To keep the heat in at dusk

Bit of a waste of electricity to put lamps in windows if you don't need them

I don’t think this is British thing, more it’s a Swedish thing! I’ve lived across a lot of Europe and the majority shut their curtains and only light the rooms they are in. This keeps the heat in and reduces energy waste.

Because what's the point? It's a waste of energy.

We don’t feel it necessary to light the street?

That's terrible for the environment!

I like the dark. I always sit in the dark to watch tv.
Hate the bright evenings in Spring and Summer

There's evidence that our wildlife is affected by light pollution. I don't know if it's been a roll on from the Blitz then the 70's blackouts.

I keep hearing in the back of my head reading this "it's like Blackpool illuminations in here! Turn the lights off" 😂

There's no "fönsterbräde" in British houses. Nowhere to put a lamp, usually.

Lighting the street is the councils job, my electricity costs enough without adding extra lights!

Curtains drawn because otherwise everyone can see in if it's dark out and the lights inside are on

This. Sorry OP but light pollution really is a thing.

I’m the same OP except I just keep one light on. I don’t like a completely dark house or street.

Curtains are closed to keep the heat in, obviously! I'm not pacing the streets when it's cold and dark so not bothered about what things look like from the outside, but my house looks cosy on the inside.

I am the only person in my street who has a lamp in every window of my house and leave some on overnight too

Yeah, fuck the environment! 😕

I don't know any houses that don't have window sills.

It's a Swedish thing for sure. I find it very cute and cosy when looking at it from the outside. But I don't like anyone looking into my apartment and be able to see what I'm up to.

I have always wondered why you Swedes don't draw the curtains. Do you not feel uncomfortable that someone might watch you?

I'm not British. I just have to draw the curtains when it's dark as I don't want anyone to watch me lounging, scratching my back or else.

Expensive and bad for the environment are right, but it does sound pretty tbf.

Although I agree with all the reasons against ding this, my mum, also not English, does this, and it always looks so cozy and less isolating.

Because it's not Blackpool Illuminations!

Because you want to keep the heat in and the prying eyes out, and because you don't want to contribute to light pollution, pollution generally, and the electricity bill.