BellaOnline Forums Home and Garden Organization Holiday Clutter: How do you keep it under control?

Here's a page with people chiming in that it's a tradition in upstate New York, Pennsylvania, rural midwest, and other locations -

candles in windows

Texas -

candles in windows

New York -

candles in windows

Christmas is my favorite holiday. I don't have kids but the ornaments I have collected over the years have given me great joy in displaying and enjoying. I even celebrate Little Christmas as an excuse to keep them out even longer. There is just something about the lights lit that makes the house warm and cozy and so pretty. I have a tiny apt so not much room for storage. I use to have a 7ft tree but downsized to a 4 ft but the amount of ornaments are the same. It takes me about two days to start and finish because most are collectibles so they go in and out of the original boxes. To make it easier on my self, I have list of what is in each box. This helps for repacking and not misplacing anything. I also took pictures of each display so then all I need to do is look and see where they were the previous year and this saves time of deciding where to put it or where it looks best. My Christmas Tree

Interesting. That's a tradition i have heard of but never seen. I figured it was more historical than currant.

In the texas blog, it says this:
Love the board and batten siding and the standing seam metal roof. Sam pointed this house out to me, said he thinks someone from New Jersey must live here due to the single candles in each window (my hometown tradition).

So to me that indicates it's really kind of an upper east coast thing. I spent 17 years in New York but don't remember this though.

Lights in the window look nice and especially when it is a colonial style home. Candles in the window and a wreath on the front door...perfect.

It's definitely alive and well in many parts of New England at least! I'll see if I can get some photos, it is quite pretty. I adore the look of candles in the windows. To me it's subtle and warm, comforting and welcoming. It's an all-winter thing, not just a December thing.