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.

@MyChumYumYum I'm not speaking for myself as I'm not ethnically or culturally British. Born in the UK but I'm not from that culture.
I'm speaking from observation. And maybe a bit of assumption.

I don’t think the emotion is connected to any particular passion for overhead lighting. I think it might be that you’ve come onto a thread to negatively comment on how Brits organise their household lighting and you’ve got right up people’s noses.

We can all claim to be outraged by your laissez faire attitude to the electric bill, the environment and serial killers but, actually, quite a few of us will just be annoyed that you’re coming from a country that seems a lovely place to live, with sensible politicians, healthy citizens and beautiful scenery, so critique our economy, our judicial system and our recycling if you must, but criticising our home decor is a step too far.

It’s a culture thing. In the UK from years ago, children’s books to adult ones, would imply when it’s cold outside, we will light the fire and close the curtains to feel snug inside.
In Swedish houses the insulation is a lot better and there is triple glazing.

I've got 2 main ceiling lights in the living room and I put one on early evening along with 5 lamps. I turn off the main light as the evening moves on & turn on a couple of twinkly string lights.

My DN lives with me and thinks it's like Blackpool illuminations😂

Some years ago, I lived in a village where all the inhabitants refused street lighting, as everyone liked the dark nights and enjoyed walking the streets in the dark, looking up at the night sky.
I wish the village I lived in now was the same.
Most inhabitants draw their curtains, but the garden lights and the street lights really piss me off.
Not only for the way it disrupts wildlife but also for me personally. I love the restful, mysterious dark.

I like the big light on but don’t want to be seen by everybody outside.

This. I think having lights beaming out from your house to make the street look cosy is pretty tin-eared.

I'm in the US in an area where people leave their curtains or blinds open and lights on.

I've mentioned this in the context of British people complaining about gaps at the sides and bottom of public loo doors - British people are obsessed with the idea that other people are looking at them, and when you leave your curtains open and lights on at night people can see in

Which is apparently a terrible thing.

I only have windows on one side of the room and I like the room to be a bit lighter. What's so strange about that? It's not uncommon to have lights on during the day here in a darker room.

What are you doing or what do you have in your sitting room that you don't want your neighbours to see?

And why do you think your neighbours would be interested in your furniture or the pictures on your walls?

Where does the belief come from that there are people lurking out there in the dark trying to catch a glimpse of you?

Brits are very funny about privacy. I personally have a nosy neighbour across the road who has made comments to me that my child goes to bed too late because she sees the light on in his room until 1am.

That's not my child's room, it's where DP is sleeping while I need to co-sleep in the night sometimes but that's not the point; she's watched and noticed enough to form an opinion. I would hate the thought of her seeing me chilling on the sofa, having late night snacks etc. And that's the only one bold though to say something! What if other nosy parkers watch and judge how I live? No thank you!

I doubt ops lamps are doing more than the street lights in terms of light pollution!! Perhaps you can suggest all the councils turn off all the street lights at 10 pm

There you have it OP

we're a bunch of miserable moaning bstards basically.

Or is that just mumsnet...

They did in the village I used to live in, apart from the ones at junctions. Other villages nearby had none at all.

@SleepingStandingUp are street lamps are turned off although later than 10pm

Why would you light a room if no one is in it? Is so the ghosts know where to haunt?

I’m with you OP I’m British but my house is always lit to look cosy and welcoming, all my lamps and candles are on timers and smart switches so they come on when it gets dark, it’s lovely to arrive home when it looks so cosy and inviting, I never shut the blinds, granted my house is not overlooked at all and I don’t have passers by but even if it was I would be the same as I have to admit I quite like showing off my house and wouldn’t mind people doing a bit of rubber necking. I visited Amsterdam last Christmas and all the beautiful houses along the canal looked so stunning all lit and decorated beautifully, no curtains or blinds and people were sat at their dining tables completely unbothered that a boatload of tourists were gazing at their artfully curated bookshelves!

Burglars are a well-known phenomenon.

But the assumption that they're out there lurking all night every night...

What is that about?

Nobody knows when they are lurking or intending harm.

Surely you’re playing dumb.

Why would you live your life afraid of what goes on between other people's ears?

Surely the opinion of a rude neighbour who has too much time on her hands should mean absolutely nothing to you?

Why are you so invested in trying to change a cultural norm?

Well yes but I still feel uncomfortable knowing that I'm being watched don't want to live in a fish bowl and essentially invite people to watch me by keeping my blinds open, so they stay shut! Upstairs curtains also stay shut.

Most people draw their curtains to have some privacy. I'd hate people looking into through my windows. I close the curtains as soon as it's dark enough to need to switch the light on.

It doesn't mean we live in darkness; it just means that we're lighting the inside of our homes rather than the street.

Other posters have mentioned light pollution. It's a real problem in towns and cities - for stargazers but, more importantly, for wildlife. It's terrible for bats.