The day following Remembrance Day, with its sobering thoughtfulness of sanctity in the societal obligation to give a scant moment out of a year in which to recall the sacrifices of the country's Armed Forces who fought for the cause of justness and liberty, leaving to us the legacy of that valiant outcome to live in peace and security, people have turned to decorating their homes for Christmas. A far lighter event, one that marks a joyous occasion for so many who subscribe to the Christian tradition of celebrating the birth of Christ.

Since it is such a colourful event, occasioning good cheer and happiness where people see the need to actually jubilantly greet others and to exchange gifts with loved ones, the holiday season known as Christmas has become a traditional time to share the festivities of brilliant colour exemplified in bright, blinking lights illuminating dark winter nights, good fellowship, and a general aura of light-heartedness has captured the imagination of non-Christians as well.

Our neighbours have begun putting up strings of colourful light bulbs, across the fronts of their roofs, around the trees, both coniferous and deciduous planted on their lawns, and anywhere else they feel like making a statement relating to their celebration of the occasion. They embark on these decorative spurts of activity during the month of November, hoping for a relatively mild day to allow them to do these things with some degree of comfort.

But the lights don't go on nor do the lawn ornaments light up until November has angled through the turnstile of seasons to December. Come December, most people switch on their goodwill exuberance along with their intention to outdo one another in street displays of singing carolers, deer placed on lawns, Santa Claus figures and creches, suitably lit for proper exhibition. Nights become sparkling bursts of illuminated joy.

There are some people, like our next-door neighbours who embrace full-on any opportunities to decorate and ornament the outdoors of their property, both front and back. These neighbours have an in-ground pool like many others; unlike many others they place half-life-size palm trees around their pool, lighting them up at night, though they never use the pool during the night hours. In November the palm trees are moved to the front of the house.

Along with Santa figures and sleighs, and reindeer, and puffy comic characters in Christmas dress. And the lights that they festoon their home exterior with go on the night following Remembrance Day, November 11. The front is lit, the back is lit. The interior is also lit with a display of an artificial Christmas tree laden with bright, fetching ornaments and blinking lights.