Does it seem that the old time festive Christmas spirit is fading away? The joy and happiness, the fun of it all, the childlike exuberance and the magic of Christmas... slowly fading away. Perhaps it's just me... getting older.... but its more than that.
I remember when growing up, houses were decorated for the holidays... Not just a few scattered here and there, but entire neighborhoods. It was festive to drive around to see all the wondrous holiday lights come to life... they were everywhere.
Having spent winters in the South for the last 15 years I can say that decorations on houses was definitely lacking... hardly anyone was decorated, and those that were decorated were merely a token effort. Now, here in the farm country of Virginia, it's the same. Not one single house that could be called spectacular, and only a handful with any decorations at all. 4 out of 5 houses either had nothing at all or a token couple strings of lights and perhaps a blow up on the lawn.
Is this a product of Christmas being too commercialized, or is it simply just too busy of a holiday for people to really put out the effort? Too much time, to much effort, and too expensive? Either way... The festive spirit of lighting up the house is fading away. Kinda sad for the younger generation and the kids. They will never experience the magic of driving through neighborhoods seeing every house with fantastic Christmas lights as we once did. They now have special events at tourist places are you pay to ride thought to see lots and displays.
Sad to see things change. Perhaps that been the appeal and attraction of Disney at Christmas time for us the past 15 years... at least Disney is keeping the festive spirit alive. Although recent articles and social posts say that even Christmas magic is fading there too... too crowded and congested, too long a wait lines for rides, attractions, and food... the magic is fading fighting the crowds. But still, id have to say... There's no happier place to be for the holidays.
Here's a look back to neighborhood houses lit for the holidays. Here's what houses, every house, look like in the neighborhood when I grow up.
