Christmas Lights In Late January? When Is It Finally Time To Take Them Down?

ACROSS AMERICA — Yes or no: Outdoor Christmas and other holiday lights should be turned off on New Year’s Day, or at the latest, after the Jan. 6 Epiphany, or Three Kings Day.

But here comes February, and in some neighborhoods, the lights are still twinkling — in some cases blinding — as many Santas still wave and reindeer pull sleighs.

For some people, Christmas is the most magical time of the year, and they see no harm in extending the season a bit longer. But their neighbors may think keeping lights on past the holidays dilutes the magic.

When do you think the switch should flip off on outdoor lighting displays? Is the Thanksgiving-to-New Year’s rule on outdoor holiday lighting still the gold standard? Or is it a matter of individual choice? Also, just out of curiosity’s sake, when should blow-up decorations come down?

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About Block Talk

Block Talk is an exclusive Patch series on neighborhood etiquette — and readers provide the answers. If you have a topic you'd like for us to consider, email beth.dalbey@patch.com with "Block Talk" as the subject line.

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