The friendly competition
between neighbours that takes places every Christmas over who has the most
extravagant or beautiful Christmas lights can now
officially begin, with the beginning of December underway. Many streets or
areas enjoy the yearly battle over whose display is the most original or whose
arrangement can attract the most visitors. Just last year, a documentary was
broadcast on Channel 4 which followed the lives of a number of people who throw
themselves wholeheartedly into the spirit of the season, showing the real
motives behind the extravagant decorations and the highs and lows that the
Christmas period brings them. This guide runs down some of the most extravagant
home light displays from across the world, and examines exactly how they
achieved the desired effects.
- Gangnam Christmas
This year, a man in
Texas, USA, has kitted out his entire house with over 25,000 LED Christmas
lights which are timed to the beat of the South Korean hit, Gangnam Style. The display, which lasts
for the entirety of the four-minute song, is timed to perfect and features
rippling effects and blackouts, all with a classy blue and white theme. The man
behind the display, John Storms, has told a radio station in Texas that due to
the cost-effective nature of the LED light bulbs he has used, the
entire display will cost just $15 to run for the entire month of December.
- ‘Ditto!’
Across the country in
Chicago, Illinois, an inventive homeowner thought outside the box in order to
produce a brilliantly eye-catching display. Every year, Chet Cybulski is
renowned in his neighbourhood for producing incredible Christmas light displays
which draw visitors from all over the state, but his next-door neighbour, Dave
Nosek is attracting all the plaudits for his original take on the tradition.
Where Mr Cybulski has a display which takes a staggering five days to assemble,
Mr Nosek simply wrote the word ‘DITTO’ in light above his garage, with an
illuminated arrow pointing to his neighbour’s more impressive achievement.
- Somerset Winter
Wonderland
After being inspired by
some incredible displays on a visit to the USA, Paul Toole from Somerset
decided to create a similar winter wonderland in his own home as well as
raising money for charity. With a total spend of £20,000 since he first started
decorating his bungalow in 1998, Mr Toole calibrates his displays so that they
flash in time to his own radio station and also gives any donates he receives
to the Make A Wish Foundation. More than 50,000 LED Christmas lights are attuned to flicker on and off to the
beat of a song, and the display has become so popular that his last switch-on
was attended by 1,000 people, as well as Only
Fools and Horses legend John Challis.
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