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.

Miaow.

A bit of an over reaction though isn’t it? Like many responses on this thread. Honestly was supposed to be light hearted.

Because my nosy neighbour would be continuously peering in through the window and I don't want to live in a goldfish bowl.

I had to get shutters at the back of my house because she was peering in there too.

Aside from the insulation benefits and cost, there's a security risk. I live in an area with a high burglary rate and you're not supposed to showcase your house to leave clues - where you keep your keys, what dates on your wall calendar show you're away, leaving expensive items in view of the windows etc.

Because it's not a British thing?

It's really not that difficult to understand surely?

There are lots of “British things” I do not understand 😁

Ah, the beauty of diversity!

Loving your Scandinavian sense of humour OP 😆 very dry!

I think perhaps if your question was phrased differently like “do you enjoy Christmas lights, should we have them and maybe other lights, for longer than just December?”

you might have got a different response.

Why not wait a week and try again as a test?

I do think most people like Christmas lights and lighting in general!

Well, to be fair there are many posters on here who strongly struggle with OP’s explanations.

Even though it’s been explained quite a few times that Sweden’s energy is renewable, there is no real need for curtains as the houses and windows are different, that it in some places is dark most of the day and that even doctor’s here recommend having lots of small lights on because of the risk of depression otherwise. And, that the lights are not exactly blinding so we can still see aurora and keep the wildlife happy. 🙂

All valid points. Not necessarily applicable here in Brit Land. Hence the difference.

We only draw the curtains in the bedrooms and (shock horror!) we have a low wall around our garden that our neighbours can see over.

Because there’s a global warming crisis!!

I never close my downstairs curtains because the cats would try to climb them and fight and end up pulling down the curtain pole, as they always used to. I don't mind if people see in. I'm boring to watch.

I also leave my bedroom curtains slightly open as I hate being in complete darkness - don't leave a light on overnight though.

And I cannot sleep if the bedroom window is closed, so it is open and the room is cold.

I'm not Swedish, but I do find most people's houses are too hot and stuffy.

Exactly. And differences are good!

It’s wonderful that you bring a touch of Swedish tradition to your home. While your efforts to brighten your street are admirable, the differences are cultural rather than a lack of appreciation for light. You keeping your lights on must add "warmth" to your neighborhood!

Well, me neither, but I dint start threads demanding why Britain doesn’t do things the Irish or French way.

Vive La Difference! 😁

I am not demanding anything. I was asking why as I find it peculiar and also a bit depressing quite frankly. I am sure your homes are lovely inside☺️

OP only tried to start an interesting discussion about a point of difference she has observed, especially when so many brits (i myself am one) say how lovely the fairy lights are, and how dark and depressing January and February are.
I don't think she deserves this reaction really!

And to be honest, some points of British culture are odd, and sometimes only a narrow set of views is represented on here.
I'm not sure it is that great that we are in general quite insular, my little fortress with my little family inside, afraid of a knock on the door etc.
It was noticeable the other week a few threads about 'it takes a village to raise a child, where is the village?', when in general we take no time and make no effort to be part of or build that village.
I know I'm conflating a lot of issues here, but I find the insistence that they way we do things is the only way that can be right for us, quite strange. And no consideration that there may be downsides to some aspects of British culture.

It was just an interesting observation, no demands have been made, nor any insistence that we are wrong.

Whaaaht...?

I wasn't defending OP for 'encouraging' her DH to sleep in a room with the window open all-seasons.

I was stating that OP seems to think it's important to do that because OP is just doing what she is used to from her native Sweden, while the majority of posters are doing what THEY feel most comfortable with, and are USED TO DOING too.

My question to the creator of this ( divisive) thread, was: " Why would anyone wish to change what feels right to them for comfort, security, economy and privacy"?

....And to answer your question @crumblingschools No I do not sleep with all the lights on when I go to bed!

Going against the British trend here I feel. Lamps on all over the house, occasionally left on at night too, but I do close my curtains. LED bulbs in so costs are minimal.

No, the issue isn't the lamps. The OP likes no curtains/blinds and doesn't understand why British people close them when it's dark.

I have thermally lined curtains - we here in the UK don't have Swedish standard window glazing, so keeping the warmth in is a thing.
I have lamps on, you just can't see them behind my curtains.

I don't! 60s ex council house and all we have is a strip of plastic about an inch wide under windows.

It has been drummed into us to save energy. Whether our parents telling us it's like Blackpool Illuminations in here, for cost reasons, or a drive to reduce our carbon use. We manage our energy. Curtains are shut to manage heat and keep things cosy.