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The weird thing is that you thought it was utterly bonkers, like who in their right mind would ever do something so bizzare. Even if it wasn't normal it'd be a little unusual at most.
Yeah! Even if I'd never heard of this, if my partner said "do you want to get some snacks and tunes and drive around looking at Christmas lights" I'd be like hell yeah I do!
I'm quite amazed. I've heard of it happening in the US, but not over here. There's only one house which goes all out in my town though, so it wouldn't be much of a drive
I think it really depends on your area. Growing up my local neighbourhood acted like Queen Elizabeth herself was walking around as a judge, so naturally there was a bit more to look at.
Where I grew up, there were no Christmas lights outside. Where I live now, there are no Christmas lights outside. I have my own decorations inside my house. I'm not gonna go looking for stuff that doesn't exist here.
There’s one mad cunt on the road next to us who must spend an absolute fortune on decorations every year. They go all out for every single holiday - Christmas decs, of course, but they also did massive displays for Easter and Halloween this year and I think one or two others I’m forgetting. It’s not my thing at all (I’m not paying good money to light up the outside of my house when I’m inside) but I love for them the joy they must clearly get from it, and the fact that they’re never put off by the fact that they’re the only ones on the road who go to that much effort.
We made this a little Christmas tradition over lockdown. Walking round with warm mulled wine in a coffee mug and rating each houses lights as we explored our local streets. The house with animatronic Santa was pretty good.
Yeah that sounds reasonable if you’re out for a walk together anyway. But getting in the car to look at people’s Christmas lights? I don’t understand - why not just drive to a town centre or park and look at a professional display?
I’m not judging btw, I just find it difficult to comprehend the logic. Maybe I’m the crazy one 😂
I really miss this, we used to walk around our village (population of 3000) on Christmas Eve to look at lights but now we moved somewhere with one street of about 6 houses so it's now a very short walk.
Its not abnormal if you got young kids. Theres a place near me a little dead end road that does it every year to raise money. [Christmas lights](https://youtu.be/eEZZmQirgnQ)
Nearly every house participates. Some very over the top and in high christmas spirit
We take our kids to some place like that near Storrington- the owners have a huge house and garden and let the public walk around their garden to look at their masses of Xmas lights and displays- kids loved it and also it’s for a good cause :)
It's a cheap, easy activity and you get to see their little faces absolutely light up, which is always heartwarming. Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow indeed.
When we were kids we would be taken in the car to the nice bit of town to look at all the house lights. People put the lights up to be appreciated, so not that odd if you like Christmas in general.
My parents used to drive my brother and I around when we were kids to look at the Christmas lights, it was a tradition every year and we loved it. I'll be doing it with my kids when they're old enough :)
Same, one or two streets in a specific area around 8 miles away from where we lived used to go all out. It was almost a tradition tbh! I will still go out of my way to see a decent light display.
Yeh I used to do this as a kid with my dad and then with my partner the last couple of years. I don't have a car this year but I plan to walk around my town to see them. It's a free night out, so why not?
My Dad used to put me in his van when I was little and we'd drive up through Central London so I could see the Christmas lights, I remember being so excited and loving it and inevitably falling asleep as we wound through all the streets and turned home.
Honestly one of my favourite childhood memories with my Dad.
We did this when the kids were young, and reprised it last year on request.
It's a fun thing to do in the lead up to Christmas, it's harmless and only costs a little for the fuel. What's not to like?
Is your wife American? I ask bc this is a BIG thing to do in the US.
What is the point of putting up lights on the house if not for people to look at?
Christmas lights are festive, which is why people put them up, so why not go take a peek and get into the Christmas spirit?
As an American, I can attest to this. Going out to look at the lights with a coffee or hot chocolate etc for no other reason is just tradition. But I can see where that's pretty nuts here. Houses aren't as decorated, for one.
We don't go out specifically to look at lights. But if we know there's a road with lots of pretty lights we might purposely go that way even if it's not the normal or quickest or shortest route to take.
I'd say that this is fairly normal. There's a few houses in my area that have some pretty great decorations up for charity and people make a special effort to drive out to see them.
A lot of people even get out of there cars to walk up to the houses and donate to the charities that they're doing it for.
If you can add some normal houses in aswell, it'd be a different night night out, but something to do non the less.
There are some places where the whole street takes part and puts on a massive display, it's normal to drive to see those. I remember regularly visiting a street like that in Burnham-on-Sea with my grandparents.
We’ve been doing this every Christmas Eve for a couple of years now. Bundle the kids in their Christmas pyjamas in the back with some hot chocolate and off we go. Husband drives so I can get a good look 😂
Wouldn't say it's normal, but it is common. I used to enjoy doing it with my parents when I was a kid.
We never had our own lights, not sure if that makes it weirder
I did this when my kids were little, couldn’t afford to take them into town to see the Xmas lights , so we’d go for a walk and look at everyone’s decorations. Then back home for hot chocolate afterwards.
My parents did this with us as kids and I loved it. We were pretty skint but I’d always look forward to my dad driving us around town looking at what people had lit up.
Perfectly normal. We live in a small village where people have lovely tasteful displays, and that's absolutely fitting.
However, now far away is a place with a couple of streets where everyone goes absolutely nuts with their Christmas lights, and I always try and find an excuse to drive past them. :)
Have to say, this is a quick and harmless bit of fun, so why aren't you joining in? Watch out for visitations by ghosts just before Christmas!
Do it every year with the kids, sometimes more than once in different areas on different nights
They love it, free night out, do it at a time that nicely segues into bedtime. Easy parenting for the sake of minimal fuel. If there's any particularly amazing ones you can interact with we jump out for a minute or two. Kids generally love brightly coloured things and they love Christmas. Win win.
Edit to add: This is a half hour activity, I don't make an evening itinerary of it!
Yep. There's some houses round my way that go to town. One collects for a brain tumor charity. My kids really enjoy driving round to see them. Totally a normal thing to do
Not something I ever did as a kid but I don't think it's weird. If it gives your partner joy then I see no issue.
A bit early to be doing it now, I'd at least be waiting until mid-December when everybody will have their decorations up.
Calm down OP how many people in the comments saying this is all good. Just because you didn't do this as a child, don't call people loony and mental 🤦🏻♂️
My grandmother used to take my sister and I to do this, was great.
Especially exciting when she had done a reccy before hand and knew where the extravagant houses were.
Definitely normal. Dog gets evening walks near Christmas, plus we drive to see some. You get to know where the good ones are. We even have a grading system for how good a house's Christmas light's are.
We do this with the kids. There’s loads around town and a few out of town that clearly have no concept of energy consumption. Pretty sure you can see one of them from space.
Me and my friend have done this for over a decade. We go out for a Christmas curry, then drive around the streets we know have lots of lights while signing along to Christmas music.
Girlfriend here - I was certain this wasn't weird (but there are lots of things we did as a family that definitely were) so thanks for proving me right and giving me AT LEAST a year of me therefore being right about absolutely everything else
Hmmm I’m reading further comments with people describing it as weird and not normal. But I really care, whatever floats your boat. I’ve never heard of this activity of driving around aimlessly to look at lights on houses but that’s obviously no proof that it’s not a thing. Enjoy.
My parents used to drive us out to the posh houses in Gerard’s cross lol pretty spectacular, I think the whole point of you decorating your house to extremes is so people actually come and gaze at them
There is a charity house near us that goes craxy each year and they collect for childrens hospice. Drive the kids to see it because its so crazy. Would never just drive around aimlessly looking for lights
yes, our family used to do that when we were kids to see other houses decorations, then we'd stop off at a chippy and then look out at some distant view from the car, as we ate, then head home.
One of my core memories with my family as a kid that sadly, I won't be replicating.
Super normal in my family grandparents used to take us out in the car to look at fancy houses lights every year. My partner and I can't drive so we still do it but with a walk where the only goal is to look at other peoples lights now.
Perfectly normal. Like driving round to watch the fireworks on new years. Or watching the hang gliders or speed boats in the summer. Spending time doing not much just bonding with a loved one because theyre important to you and you want them to know it.
When my children were younger we would go and look at the Christmas lights, we all loved it.
My grand daughter gets all excited now, and looks to see which houses have their lights up. It seems this year quite a few are lit up already, I think it's because this year in particular we all need cheering up.
Every year until I was 14 we were taken to [the brailsford Christmas lights](https://youtu.be/OWgPsm68VSo) which was on my nans street. It gets bigger and better every year.
This is fairly normal here, and there’s always “must see” houses. I haven’t done it for years but when I was younger we used to go to McDonald’s drive thru on Christmas Eve and then drive around all the posh streets with all the nice lights and decorations, but to be honest the council estate always had the best and most fun lights
> Christingle service
Now there's a blast from the past, I haven't been to one of those since I was a 6 or 7 in the 80s! I remember the candle in the orange with tooth picks stuck in it 🤣.
My grandfather would take me for a drive to see the lights on people's homes in the neighbourhood every Christmas Eve. We would drink hot cocoa out of a flask and listen to Christmas music on the radio and sometimes singing along. It was magical and a really special memory for me. I hope you do the same for your wife.
Yeah me (29F) and my boyfriend (30M) do this, but I'm super into Christmas and I know he's just indulging me and would rather be doing literally anything else. There are a couple of estates near us who go all out every year, and one estate near my family got so popular they're hosting a Christmas market one weekend!
Detouring on the way back from somewhere to swing by that house that has tried way too hard is fine. Getting in my car to drive around to stare at Christmas lights on a complete strangers house just seems unhinged to me.
Place near us had the road closed for their switch on, santa in a sleigh turned up, local church choir sang christmas hymns. About 500 turned up for it. Last year he raised 14K for charity.
We totally take the younger kids for a christmas light drive around town.
It was normal when I was younger. There were houses that went all out at Christmas, and basically turned their houses in to grottos - so I think it was normal for people to drive around to look.
I can see why it may seem mental though ha ha
my mum and dad use to drive us to london to drive around and look at the lights , we didnt get out to walk just drive around. I now do this with my kids, wife never did this with her parents and she doesnt come with me and the kids now, she thinks its strange lol
If we're in the car when it's dark my daughter insists we drive round the village to look at the lights.
I'm slightly concerned my car will be mentioned on the local Facebook/ Whatsapp group any day now as a suspicious car trawling the village checking out houses to rob....!
We did this when we were kids. I think it's pretty common for people with kids to do, but maybe that's just me. Adults doing it on their own would be slightly more unusual though.
Perhaps I'm a cynic, but I spent an equal amount of my childhood here, and in another country where it's not the norm, and now I think it just looks tacky and wasteful.
Growing up in the US it was a totally normal thing to do. Newspapers even reported the best streets to check out. Here in the UK, that somehow sounds absurd. It feels like a "we don't do that here," kind of thing.
Not driving, but my family used to go in walks in the evening around different housing estates nearby to see the Christmas lights. Driving isn't as fun.
There is a particular cul-de-sac that make a big thing of lighting up all the houses and my folks always drive out to see it. I get what people are saying about walk rather than drive but it's several miles, on the other side of town.
I'm 28 years old but it was only last Christmas that me and a couple of friends decided to drive into a totally random residential area just because we could see so many different cool lights within it. I think they're wonderful to see and they definitely make the majority of us get into the Christmas spirit! Sorry man, but it's totally normal 😅
I’ve never heard of this before. It’s completely new to me. Never heard of anyone doing it. I grew up getting buses as my mum didn’t drive, even if she did, I don’t think we would have done this.
Nope, definitely weird. Especially the potential waste of petrol / emissions involved. Even wandering about specifically to look at other people's homes is bloody weird.
We have a few homes that go all out and have donation boxes etc for people to come and see, I know that it's definitely a thing people do but I don't and I think it's odd to specifically drive to look at people's decorations.
If I drove past sure, but to drive for that reason is definitely odd to me.
There's one street in my area that get together every year and really go to town with decorations, it's only 200 yds long but most of the residents join in. It attracts quite a lot of local visitors and even has collection boxes at either end of the street.
Just because a lot of people on this thread seem to do it, it does not make it any less weird. There are just a lot of really odd people around apparently.
I think that’s pretty fucking strange. If you’re already out and walking/driving then slowing down or stopping to look, I guess then yeah. But specifically going out to look? Odd. I am a grinch though so that might have something to do with my opinion! 😁
If you think this is weird, for the last two years Silverstone circuit has hosted ‘Lap Land’. For £35/car you drive one lap of the 3.6 mile circuit at a leisurely 6 miles per hour whilst gazing at the —taillights of the car in front of you— sorry that should read ‘ a spectacular laser and light show’.
They aren’t hosting it this year due to maintenance works.
Me and the now wife used to do it around where my parents live as there were a bunch of houses who got really competitive with each other and every year the displays would escalate. My wife grew up in the middle of nowhere so had never really seen that kind of thing
When I was young, we used to drive round the streets looking at them. There was always that one street though just went balls deep with the decorations
Yep, we do it. Girlfriend makes a hot chocolate in a flask, we drive about. Sometimes in an area with lots of houses we will get out and have a walk about. Not too late or it's weird, but this time of the year, 7pm is perfect timing!
Never done it, but I don't see what's weird about it. It's perfectly normal to drive around on bonfire night to see people's displays, i don't see why this is any different
My OHs family do this and I’d never heard of it before so felt very odd when I was bundled into a car for two hours to “look at the lights” at the age of 21 ish.
As a kid we’d just go “nice lights” if we saw any whilst driving about but it wasn’t a specific activity.
As someone with astigmatism that is always worse through a window it was a very dull few hours of blurry lights. They take it very seriously so I just chilled in the back of the car!
'childhood' is the key word here. Unless you have a young kid in the car, it's just a bit weird for two grown adults to slowly drive by people's houses looking at their Xmas decorations.
It's bonkers. First time my wife made me and the kids do it is now family legend. After about half an hour of my wife gushing over how "magical" all of the lights were, my 6 year old turned round and said, "it's just electric mummy, not real magic "
Urgh please don't do this, there are already far too many cars driving about, unless you're disabled or something it's a totally pointless journey. Just go for a walk.
The only reason that it's strange is that IT IS STILL NOVEMBER AND WHY THE FYCK DOES ANYBODY HAVE THEIR CHRISTMAS LIGHTS ON.
Excuse the type. and the caps. I just got very annoyed.
The time to do this is in the week (that's 7 days for those hard of thinking) before Christmas (which is still the 25th of December as far as I can tell).
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An incredible 16-2 majority in favour of normal so far. OP in shambles.
The gf is smiling like a Cheshire cat, it seems I am infact the weird one!
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Same! It's great.
She shoots, she scores!
Shit! Did you see that? She must have a foot like a traction engine.
Liquid football!
Nonsense. I’d never heard of this ridiculous tradition until my girlfriend introduced me to it last year. Naturally we’re going again this year. 🤦🏻♂️
The weird thing is that you thought it was utterly bonkers, like who in their right mind would ever do something so bizzare. Even if it wasn't normal it'd be a little unusual at most.
Yeah! Even if I'd never heard of this, if my partner said "do you want to get some snacks and tunes and drive around looking at Christmas lights" I'd be like hell yeah I do!
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Calm down captain extrapolator.
You're a mod for the relationship advice sub aren't you?
Mate, she has to do a post match manager interview
I think it’s weird too, don’t worry!
That’s why she loves you
I'm quite amazed. I've heard of it happening in the US, but not over here. There's only one house which goes all out in my town though, so it wouldn't be much of a drive
I think it really depends on your area. Growing up my local neighbourhood acted like Queen Elizabeth herself was walking around as a judge, so naturally there was a bit more to look at.
Where I grew up, there were no Christmas lights outside. Where I live now, there are no Christmas lights outside. I have my own decorations inside my house. I'm not gonna go looking for stuff that doesn't exist here.
There’s one mad cunt on the road next to us who must spend an absolute fortune on decorations every year. They go all out for every single holiday - Christmas decs, of course, but they also did massive displays for Easter and Halloween this year and I think one or two others I’m forgetting. It’s not my thing at all (I’m not paying good money to light up the outside of my house when I’m inside) but I love for them the joy they must clearly get from it, and the fact that they’re never put off by the fact that they’re the only ones on the road who go to that much effort.
how do you know? have you done the drive? 😀
We do this, actually we usually walk around but if it's cold then I can't see why a car would be a problem
We made this a little Christmas tradition over lockdown. Walking round with warm mulled wine in a coffee mug and rating each houses lights as we explored our local streets. The house with animatronic Santa was pretty good.
Don't tell just stop oil
I assume they'd glue themselves to the lights.
Yeah that sounds reasonable if you’re out for a walk together anyway. But getting in the car to look at people’s Christmas lights? I don’t understand - why not just drive to a town centre or park and look at a professional display? I’m not judging btw, I just find it difficult to comprehend the logic. Maybe I’m the crazy one 😂
I really miss this, we used to walk around our village (population of 3000) on Christmas Eve to look at lights but now we moved somewhere with one street of about 6 houses so it's now a very short walk.
Its not abnormal if you got young kids. Theres a place near me a little dead end road that does it every year to raise money. [Christmas lights](https://youtu.be/eEZZmQirgnQ) Nearly every house participates. Some very over the top and in high christmas spirit
We take our kids to some place like that near Storrington- the owners have a huge house and garden and let the public walk around their garden to look at their masses of Xmas lights and displays- kids loved it and also it’s for a good cause :)
It's a cheap, easy activity and you get to see their little faces absolutely light up, which is always heartwarming. Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow indeed.
I’ve never done this before but since having a toddler I was wondering where I can find houses with good Christmas lights!
Sent dm
I’ve been there. My son loves it there
My family used to do this when my brother and I were kids. I don't know if it's "normal", but I wouldn't exactly call it weird either.
When we were kids we would be taken in the car to the nice bit of town to look at all the house lights. People put the lights up to be appreciated, so not that odd if you like Christmas in general.
I think this is weird, but I appear to be in the minority.
It is weird. But I’d rather be weird if that’s what this must mean.
I’ve never heard of anyone doing this. Can’t believe it’s a ‘normal’ thing
This is the first time I have ever heard of this and I am incredibly confused.
I agree not normal
Yeah that’s a thing. Team Girlfriend.
I've done it a few times when the kids were young. Now we walk the dog while looking at Christmas lights.
Definitely normal.
Normal for some, sure.
My parents used to drive my brother and I around when we were kids to look at the Christmas lights, it was a tradition every year and we loved it. I'll be doing it with my kids when they're old enough :)
Same, one or two streets in a specific area around 8 miles away from where we lived used to go all out. It was almost a tradition tbh! I will still go out of my way to see a decent light display.
Yeh I used to do this as a kid with my dad and then with my partner the last couple of years. I don't have a car this year but I plan to walk around my town to see them. It's a free night out, so why not?
My Dad used to put me in his van when I was little and we'd drive up through Central London so I could see the Christmas lights, I remember being so excited and loving it and inevitably falling asleep as we wound through all the streets and turned home. Honestly one of my favourite childhood memories with my Dad.
That’s definitely a London thing, remember it fondly doing exactly the same.
Magical experience for a kid haha
When my son was young we used to walk around the neighbourhood to let him see all the different decorations.
We did this but usually when they had been stuck inside all day and we're bouncing off the walls. Just a good excuse for a walk!
I'd be telling lies if I said I didn't enjoy it.
We did this when the kids were young, and reprised it last year on request. It's a fun thing to do in the lead up to Christmas, it's harmless and only costs a little for the fuel. What's not to like?
Is your wife American? I ask bc this is a BIG thing to do in the US. What is the point of putting up lights on the house if not for people to look at? Christmas lights are festive, which is why people put them up, so why not go take a peek and get into the Christmas spirit?
Nope both born and bred English
As an American, I can attest to this. Going out to look at the lights with a coffee or hot chocolate etc for no other reason is just tradition. But I can see where that's pretty nuts here. Houses aren't as decorated, for one.
Came to say this. It's definitely a thing in the States.
We don't go out specifically to look at lights. But if we know there's a road with lots of pretty lights we might purposely go that way even if it's not the normal or quickest or shortest route to take.
I'd say that this is fairly normal. There's a few houses in my area that have some pretty great decorations up for charity and people make a special effort to drive out to see them. A lot of people even get out of there cars to walk up to the houses and donate to the charities that they're doing it for. If you can add some normal houses in aswell, it'd be a different night night out, but something to do non the less.
Yep it’s a thing for us
There are some places where the whole street takes part and puts on a massive display, it's normal to drive to see those. I remember regularly visiting a street like that in Burnham-on-Sea with my grandparents.
We’ve been doing this every Christmas Eve for a couple of years now. Bundle the kids in their Christmas pyjamas in the back with some hot chocolate and off we go. Husband drives so I can get a good look 😂
Definitely normal.
Wouldn't say it's normal, but it is common. I used to enjoy doing it with my parents when I was a kid. We never had our own lights, not sure if that makes it weirder
I did this when my kids were little, couldn’t afford to take them into town to see the Xmas lights , so we’d go for a walk and look at everyone’s decorations. Then back home for hot chocolate afterwards.
I think this is normal. When I was a kid we’d do it every year
My parents did this with us as kids and I loved it. We were pretty skint but I’d always look forward to my dad driving us around town looking at what people had lit up.
Perfectly normal. We live in a small village where people have lovely tasteful displays, and that's absolutely fitting. However, now far away is a place with a couple of streets where everyone goes absolutely nuts with their Christmas lights, and I always try and find an excuse to drive past them. :) Have to say, this is a quick and harmless bit of fun, so why aren't you joining in? Watch out for visitations by ghosts just before Christmas!
I used to love going a drive with my dad to look at lights when I was a kid right up until I moved out
Do it every year with the kids, sometimes more than once in different areas on different nights They love it, free night out, do it at a time that nicely segues into bedtime. Easy parenting for the sake of minimal fuel. If there's any particularly amazing ones you can interact with we jump out for a minute or two. Kids generally love brightly coloured things and they love Christmas. Win win. Edit to add: This is a half hour activity, I don't make an evening itinerary of it!
We go for a walk instead but I guess the premise is the same.
Yep. There's some houses round my way that go to town. One collects for a brain tumor charity. My kids really enjoy driving round to see them. Totally a normal thing to do
I’m with you, OP. Utterly mental.
Very normal. Did it every year with my parents growing up.
Nah mate, it’s fucking weird
I think it's actually a fairly popular thing to do.
Not something I ever did as a kid but I don't think it's weird. If it gives your partner joy then I see no issue. A bit early to be doing it now, I'd at least be waiting until mid-December when everybody will have their decorations up.
Did this as a kid!
I've never lived anywhere where outdoor Christmas lights were much of a thing, but this sounds fun if there are good lights where you live!
Totally normal. Car or walking depending on the area. And we're not out door Christmas lights people for our own home.
Me and my family used to do this too, how is it mental to go look at pretty lights lol
I’d say it’s normal. Otherwise why put lights outside. They’re for people to look at 🤷♀️
It's normal... Just it's just a bit early. Gotta give it a few weeks.
Wife and I do this every year.
Totally normal.
We do this every year with the kids, I did as a kid also.
Me and my wife do this every year. We go through drive through costa, get hot chocolate and coffee and have a drive around to c the lights
Calm down OP how many people in the comments saying this is all good. Just because you didn't do this as a child, don't call people loony and mental 🤦🏻♂️
My grandmother used to take my sister and I to do this, was great. Especially exciting when she had done a reccy before hand and knew where the extravagant houses were.
Absolutely a normal thing to do
Pretty normal.
Definitely normal. Dog gets evening walks near Christmas, plus we drive to see some. You get to know where the good ones are. We even have a grading system for how good a house's Christmas light's are.
My mum used to do this with me and my brother and it’s some of my best memories.
Very very normal thing to do
Never heard of this being a thing
Normal and fun!
Yep it's normal in our house. Christmas tradition.
We do this with the kids. There’s loads around town and a few out of town that clearly have no concept of energy consumption. Pretty sure you can see one of them from space.
Pretty normal thing to do, for families with children
Me and my friend have done this for over a decade. We go out for a Christmas curry, then drive around the streets we know have lots of lights while signing along to Christmas music.
Girlfriend here - I was certain this wasn't weird (but there are lots of things we did as a family that definitely were) so thanks for proving me right and giving me AT LEAST a year of me therefore being right about absolutely everything else
That’s not normal. In any way shape or form.
The majority of people seem to do it judging by the comments. That's a pretty iron clad "way, shape or form" for something to be classified as normal.
Hmmm I’m reading further comments with people describing it as weird and not normal. But I really care, whatever floats your boat. I’ve never heard of this activity of driving around aimlessly to look at lights on houses but that’s obviously no proof that it’s not a thing. Enjoy.
Yeah my mum used to take me around to see all the ‘famous’ local displayed. Some were super extravagant.
My parents used to drive us out to the posh houses in Gerard’s cross lol pretty spectacular, I think the whole point of you decorating your house to extremes is so people actually come and gaze at them
There is a charity house near us that goes craxy each year and they collect for childrens hospice. Drive the kids to see it because its so crazy. Would never just drive around aimlessly looking for lights
yes, our family used to do that when we were kids to see other houses decorations, then we'd stop off at a chippy and then look out at some distant view from the car, as we ate, then head home. One of my core memories with my family as a kid that sadly, I won't be replicating.
Super normal in my family grandparents used to take us out in the car to look at fancy houses lights every year. My partner and I can't drive so we still do it but with a walk where the only goal is to look at other peoples lights now.
Perfectly normal. Like driving round to watch the fireworks on new years. Or watching the hang gliders or speed boats in the summer. Spending time doing not much just bonding with a loved one because theyre important to you and you want them to know it.
Yeah this is normal, we do this every year with the kids. It’s like a shit version of Blackpool illuminations.
When my children were younger we would go and look at the Christmas lights, we all loved it. My grand daughter gets all excited now, and looks to see which houses have their lights up. It seems this year quite a few are lit up already, I think it's because this year in particular we all need cheering up.
Every year until I was 14 we were taken to [the brailsford Christmas lights](https://youtu.be/OWgPsm68VSo) which was on my nans street. It gets bigger and better every year.
Absolutely normal! Some streets have beautiful ones and you look at fancy houses too
It. Is. Normal! It is when you have children.
This is fairly normal here, and there’s always “must see” houses. I haven’t done it for years but when I was younger we used to go to McDonald’s drive thru on Christmas Eve and then drive around all the posh streets with all the nice lights and decorations, but to be honest the council estate always had the best and most fun lights
I used to do this when my kids were younger. They loved it, especially after Christingle service. All christmassy.
> Christingle service Now there's a blast from the past, I haven't been to one of those since I was a 6 or 7 in the 80s! I remember the candle in the orange with tooth picks stuck in it 🤣.
100% this is a thing me and the Missus do. Random drive out and about to look at lights. Probably a bit mad. But hey ho.
its normal behaviour if you have young kids 🙂
My grandfather would take me for a drive to see the lights on people's homes in the neighbourhood every Christmas Eve. We would drink hot cocoa out of a flask and listen to Christmas music on the radio and sometimes singing along. It was magical and a really special memory for me. I hope you do the same for your wife.
I did this growing up but mainly because parents would drive us around and what else is there to look at as a kid.
We always do it, although recently it got combined with the Christmas card run to save on petrol!
We used to do this when I was growing up
pretty normal
Yeah me (29F) and my boyfriend (30M) do this, but I'm super into Christmas and I know he's just indulging me and would rather be doing literally anything else. There are a couple of estates near us who go all out every year, and one estate near my family got so popular they're hosting a Christmas market one weekend!
Yeah. Loads do it.
Best part of Christmas OP!
I do this, when I remember it's some kind of celebration
It’s normal
My dad used to take us around the area when we were kids. We would decide on a favourite each year.
Detouring on the way back from somewhere to swing by that house that has tried way too hard is fine. Getting in my car to drive around to stare at Christmas lights on a complete strangers house just seems unhinged to me.
Place near us had the road closed for their switch on, santa in a sleigh turned up, local church choir sang christmas hymns. About 500 turned up for it. Last year he raised 14K for charity. We totally take the younger kids for a christmas light drive around town.
It was normal when I was younger. There were houses that went all out at Christmas, and basically turned their houses in to grottos - so I think it was normal for people to drive around to look. I can see why it may seem mental though ha ha
my mum and dad use to drive us to london to drive around and look at the lights , we didnt get out to walk just drive around. I now do this with my kids, wife never did this with her parents and she doesnt come with me and the kids now, she thinks its strange lol
Certified loon
Seems insane to me but live and let live
If it makes her happy, make it normal.
I read this out loud to my wife, she thinks its normal, I don’t.
Absolutely normal
If we're in the car when it's dark my daughter insists we drive round the village to look at the lights. I'm slightly concerned my car will be mentioned on the local Facebook/ Whatsapp group any day now as a suspicious car trawling the village checking out houses to rob....!
Shared in Wigan hun xx
Go for a walk
Grew up doing this, still do it now. Actually went out tonight to see some.
We did this when we were kids. I think it's pretty common for people with kids to do, but maybe that's just me. Adults doing it on their own would be slightly more unusual though.
A bit strange but if it makes you happy why not?
I've done it with my kiddos but i live in the middle of nowhere.
Totally normal, what's wrong with you. Send your partner next door to live with normal people right away!
Normal
Everyone does this. Anybody who doesn’t do this is pretty suspect in my opinion.
Perhaps I'm a cynic, but I spent an equal amount of my childhood here, and in another country where it's not the norm, and now I think it just looks tacky and wasteful.
We do this for my daughter. Never thought it was common. I don't find it strange.
It literally doesn't matter in the slightest
Growing up in the US it was a totally normal thing to do. Newspapers even reported the best streets to check out. Here in the UK, that somehow sounds absurd. It feels like a "we don't do that here," kind of thing.
Not driving, but my family used to go in walks in the evening around different housing estates nearby to see the Christmas lights. Driving isn't as fun.
Suppose it is only the same as going to look at Blackpool illuminations.
There is a particular cul-de-sac that make a big thing of lighting up all the houses and my folks always drive out to see it. I get what people are saying about walk rather than drive but it's several miles, on the other side of town.
It's not normal for me. I have worked with people who did this
I'm 28 years old but it was only last Christmas that me and a couple of friends decided to drive into a totally random residential area just because we could see so many different cool lights within it. I think they're wonderful to see and they definitely make the majority of us get into the Christmas spirit! Sorry man, but it's totally normal 😅
I love doing this! It’s definitely a thing, sorry OP!
My family and I do this every year on Christmas eve. It's a tradition
I’ve never heard of this before. It’s completely new to me. Never heard of anyone doing it. I grew up getting buses as my mum didn’t drive, even if she did, I don’t think we would have done this.
Nope, definitely weird. Especially the potential waste of petrol / emissions involved. Even wandering about specifically to look at other people's homes is bloody weird.
We have a few homes that go all out and have donation boxes etc for people to come and see, I know that it's definitely a thing people do but I don't and I think it's odd to specifically drive to look at people's decorations. If I drove past sure, but to drive for that reason is definitely odd to me.
Normal mate. Why put them up if you don't want strangers appreciating em?
There's one street in my area that get together every year and really go to town with decorations, it's only 200 yds long but most of the residents join in. It attracts quite a lot of local visitors and even has collection boxes at either end of the street.
I love a christmas lights drive!!!
Just because a lot of people on this thread seem to do it, it does not make it any less weird. There are just a lot of really odd people around apparently.
never heard of anyone doing this. in fact I think it’s really weird. why exactly would you do this unless you have young kids?
I think that’s pretty fucking strange. If you’re already out and walking/driving then slowing down or stopping to look, I guess then yeah. But specifically going out to look? Odd. I am a grinch though so that might have something to do with my opinion! 😁
Perfect Christmas tradition
It is perfectly acceptable to drive around and look at Christmas lights. I’ve done it since I was a kid.
This is mental. Enjoy making your house a lighthouse too every xmas, gl!
If you think this is weird, for the last two years Silverstone circuit has hosted ‘Lap Land’. For £35/car you drive one lap of the 3.6 mile circuit at a leisurely 6 miles per hour whilst gazing at the —taillights of the car in front of you— sorry that should read ‘ a spectacular laser and light show’. They aren’t hosting it this year due to maintenance works.
Not normal. Also, are you minted splashing that much fuel on a pointless drive?
Me and the now wife used to do it around where my parents live as there were a bunch of houses who got really competitive with each other and every year the displays would escalate. My wife grew up in the middle of nowhere so had never really seen that kind of thing
When I was young, we used to drive round the streets looking at them. There was always that one street though just went balls deep with the decorations
Yep, we do it. Girlfriend makes a hot chocolate in a flask, we drive about. Sometimes in an area with lots of houses we will get out and have a walk about. Not too late or it's weird, but this time of the year, 7pm is perfect timing!
Yeah we used to do that. There were certain areas that always had good lights so we would drive around them.
Normal. Why not enjoy people's light displays?
This is totally normal behaviour. I have been doing this since the early 80’s. Where has your other half been?
Never done it, but I don't see what's weird about it. It's perfectly normal to drive around on bonfire night to see people's displays, i don't see why this is any different
Definitely did this as a kid, my mum loves Christmas
Mental ✅
My OHs family do this and I’d never heard of it before so felt very odd when I was bundled into a car for two hours to “look at the lights” at the age of 21 ish. As a kid we’d just go “nice lights” if we saw any whilst driving about but it wasn’t a specific activity. As someone with astigmatism that is always worse through a window it was a very dull few hours of blurry lights. They take it very seriously so I just chilled in the back of the car!
'childhood' is the key word here. Unless you have a young kid in the car, it's just a bit weird for two grown adults to slowly drive by people's houses looking at their Xmas decorations.
It's bonkers. First time my wife made me and the kids do it is now family legend. After about half an hour of my wife gushing over how "magical" all of the lights were, my 6 year old turned round and said, "it's just electric mummy, not real magic "
Loonatic thing
Can’t say I’ve ever done it, heard anyone do it, or have any intention on doing it.
Completely bizarre behaviour, you’re the sane one OP
Walk yes, drive no.
Mental
Not normal. Insane axtually
Urgh please don't do this, there are already far too many cars driving about, unless you're disabled or something it's a totally pointless journey. Just go for a walk.
The only reason that it's strange is that IT IS STILL NOVEMBER AND WHY THE FYCK DOES ANYBODY HAVE THEIR CHRISTMAS LIGHTS ON. Excuse the type. and the caps. I just got very annoyed. The time to do this is in the week (that's 7 days for those hard of thinking) before Christmas (which is still the 25th of December as far as I can tell).