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.

Don’t go there. 😂

I wouldn't waste money in lighting outside up where I am not. I also don't want people looking in and so wouldn't have my curtains open and lights on.

It's the light pollution that is the problem for many other species.

We have 2 lamps in the lounge. A tall one and a table lamp. We also have 2 separate ceiling lights. I’m currently sat with one lamp one, plus the Christmas tree lights, plus a couple of small tea light candles.

I also think lights might be really important in places of the world which are colder and have more hours of darkness. Darkness can cause depression. Makes sense to use coloured pretty lights all winter in public spaces.

There will be lots of people who don't get it and it won't effect.. but there are many scientific studies showing the psychological effects of different coloured lights. Warm colours like orange or pinks are best.

This thought has to go into the design of public spaces.
You wouldn't argue that rock gardens or art or fountains or other things placed in public areas to enrich people's environment are 'a waste of money' or 'pollute the environment'.. well some people might but they'd be completely negating the positive impact of these things on people's wellbeing. How they effect a sense of community and how they effect people's behaviour in public spaces.
I don't see why lights shouldn't be thought of in this way.

I do. every bulb in my house is a daylight bulb. I like bright light. I get very low in winter and the daylight bulbs have been a gamechanger.

Then again, compare how many people who cycles in Sthlm compared to London. I didn’t think the UK lit up their houses that much either.

I loved leaving my curtains open at night when i lived in a flat on mainland Europe. Wouldn't do it here in my house as i live in an isolated spot.

Light pollution is awful! One of the most wonderful things about moving to the countryside from suburbia is the ability to see the stars. Used to have a street light right outside the master bedroom of our old townhouse and hated it.

I also can’t stand it when people over-illuminate inside their homes. We renovated a Georgian property and were very conscious not to include loads of modern spot lights etc and keep it true to the period. The result is a lovely, cosy atmosphere (in my opinion).

The light pollution is in no way going to equal that of ordinary street lighting. Having a few rairy lights or a lamp in your window will add nothing to light pollution because there are already usually street lamps in built up areas. They are already lit. Just not with 'pretty' intention.

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

Well that's a fire waiting to happen, isn't it?

And as for leaving your lights on with your curtains open, do you not value your privacy at all?

Why would we need to light up our windows over night?

And what's wrong with darkness?! We have blackout curtains for a reason.

It’s always light at night here..street lights and security lights on all night.

If you close your curtains or blinds at dusk, your house stays warmer #trufact.

Also, I think people like their privacy?

Light pollution is foul. Why do you insist on stealing the right to experience darkness from other people?

We never draw our curtains and have lots of lamps, candles and twinkly things all through the autumn and winter. We have festoon lighting in the garden but we don’t have it on that often because it’s bright and I don’t want to piss off the neighbours.

because we were raised to turn lights off, not more on

Do you never have any lights on at all

Perhaps if areas have lots of street lights etc. We don’t. Our led lights in our house won’t contribute to that. But I see what you mean. There is so much forest in Sweden though (DH had to stop for a moose the other day, it’s just forest and darkness) and I think it’s probably impossible to compare countries like this. But interesting.

I hate dark rooms and have my lamps on most of the year - but we’re well off! Most people can’t afford to.

I understand what you mean about the ambience of the street but a lamp in every window is a bit much I think! Don’t the wires drag awkwardly, there’s hardly a perfectly placed socket in every room? Are they all the same size and style of lamp, the same lightbulb? Don’t they have to match decor in different rooms? These are the things that would annoy me 🤣 my lamps are on bedsides or desks etc., the window is the last place I’d think to put them.

Those saying having lamps in windows doesn’t benefit them, well neither do outdoor Christmas lights. Yet plenty of people decorate the outside of their houses.

I lived in Norway, OP, and it’s traditional there and it does look lovely in the long dark months.

I suspect it might be partly to do with UK houses being poorly insulated and traditionally only having single glazing. Many people would have shut thick curtains to keep the chilly night out. I am shocked by how cold houses are in the UK and how quickly they cool down, once the central heating goes off.

It’s also common for houses in UK cities to be right on the pavement and then anyone walking past can see right in the windows. A Norwegian friend was astonished, pointing out that all their houses were lifted up, mainly because keeping the snow away from the door required steps.

I automatically take shoes off at the door and am finding it hard to adjust to wearing outdoor shoes all day at work!

My dining room and study faces the road. I don’t mind if people catch a glance as they walk past my house. I can shag my DH in the living room which faces the garden and is completely private.

I am not stealing anything. My lamps are fairly inoffensive. I don’t have massive spotlights in the windows.