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.

@Swedegirl48
The NHS is the most terrifying thing I have ever come across - Is it? I'm from the UK, living overseas, but due to return soon. Hope it improves by then

I love lamps!

I was trained from a very early age never to turn the light on and leave the curtains open for the whole world to see your business. My mother felt very strongly about lights on curtains shut - it might have rubbed off😂

Well maybe you need to educate yourself better because your thread title isn't even true and your post doesn't even make sense: but the rest of the year people draw their curtains and no one seems to put lamps in the windows

First of all the majority of people draw their curtains, blinds etc... year round. They don't get to Decemeber and suddenly decide not to because they have put up Xmas lights.

Secondly, we don't live in darkness except for December. Even on a cloudy day like today we'll have daylight from approx. 7am until at least 3.30pm that is just under 40% of a 24hr period. And as the days go by that increases. At its peak in summer we have daylight from approx 4 or 5am to 9pm (66% of a 24hr period) so not sure how people are living in darkness.

So yes you are being unreasonable to say why do Brits live in darkness until Dec because it's not even true and I'm not surprised at some of the responses you have had.

What lights?? What for ?? I prefer the darkness

So why are you living here if it’s that bad?

Called it! Here it comes

Here comes what? Someone posts a list of negativity what are you expecting a pat on the head? Awww hunny it's not that bad?

If you don't like where you live or how your living change it you want the lights on put them on you want better health care google an area and move to the best one my friend had a chronic health condition very much effected by the postcode lottery she moved for treatment Heck I moved for better job prospects

You are not a tree so rooted you will literally die if you move remember that

You are not a tree so rooted you will literally die if you move remember that

OP did move, so I think she remembers she is not a tree.

Wasn't actually replying to op but thanks for that

Why are certain people being so triggered by the idea of lamps in windows? 😂Only on MN!

If you think December in the U.K. is dark, in Stockholm, it doesn't get light until 9am and then 'evening' starts about 1pm before the sun sets at 3pm. So not much daylight at all and no wonder they go for a lot of lighting. You would need to do as to ward off seasonal depression. If it's dark and very cold, you may as well go with the vibe and make it super cosy. I think the idea of all the house windows lit is lovely, and I can see the appeal.

The weather is the U.K. is shite in winter, but not quite as shite as Scandinavia (excluding the north of Scotland) so Xmas lights through Nov/ Dec are probably just about enough. Having said this, it would be nice if there were more lights through Jan, as this is the most dire month imo. Especially in rural areas.

@Swedegirl48 you're absolutely right that you've had some super weird responses on this thread. I really don't understand why and I'm glad that you're still here and posting with sense and good humour.

I love to see the window lamps in Sweden. I love Christmas lights. I really enjoy seeing houses, trees, etc lit up over Christmas and I'm always sad when they get taken down.

Where I live the lights aren't bright enough to cause light pollution and the cost of running them is tiny.

This year for various reasons I've scaled down my Christmas Decs, and haven't put a tree up. However, we have lots of large lit paper snowflakes dotted about including hanging in the windows where people passing by can see them, as can I when I return home in the dark after a long day. They are so cheerful.

I think we could learn a great deal from Nordic nations about ways to live well during winter months. Thinking about it, the Danish concept of Hygge has become very popular......

I think you probably have better insulation in the cold northlands. Not so much here.
My grandmothers 15th century cottage was so draughty you'd be mad not to draw the heavy velvet curtains as soon as it got dark.
There was no double glazing and ice on the inside of the windows.

I'm not sure I want the outside of my house to look "inviting". It's my house not a hotel.

Aren't we talking about a few low wattage bulbs

If we all thought like that, nothing would ever change!

Ah but that gets in the way of being dramatic and xenophobic

You really don't need to ever use hot water do you, that will help much more

Here we go again. OP IS home. She lives in the UK.

It is you're.

I remember being told that some people in the Netherlands don't close their curtains for religious reasons. Something about having nothing to hide. Is that the case also in Sweden?

Not really. Heating costs a lot, but light isn't that expensive.
It's more about not being wasteful. I wouldn't light a room I wasn't in or have lights on overnight even if I could afford it.

But clearly prefers where she came from, wants to criticise the U.K. but there’s obviously something good about it or she’d go back. I’ve lived all over the world but ‘home’ is here in the U.K. regardless of where I’m staying.

"Many of us have cars, don’t recycle, heating on constantly, multiple trips abroad, buying “unnecessary” shit, tv on all the time"

I don't know anyone who doesn't recycle these days. Isn't it compulsory?

Because it's the Councils job to light the street?