I do not know who started it but it feels like an obligation to decorate your house with outdoor string lights when Christmas is near. Maybe it is because of the white background settings thanks to the snow, the outdoor Christmas lights are able to stand out more. Blinking colors fill your lawn rather than the dull white snowy background and it does help to distinguish your house from your neighbors.

You can start to buy those lights from any retailer a few months before Christmas. There are a lot of different lighting designs that you can choose from. Some of them are just the basic wire and light bulbs tied to each other and others might be incorporated into puppets or figurines like a reindeer or Santa Claus. You might just want a minimal look and just hang a few outdoor lights at your door or entry. You can also join a competition for the most decorated house with lights in the area. Most neighborhoods organize such events, if not you can also bring it up with your local neighborhood community.

Remember that you will be using your own source of electricity to power those lights. Install too many of them inside or on your house and you will receive an expensive present in the form of an electric bill at the end of the month.

Once the jolly season is over, you do not have to throw away all the lights. You can keep them safe in their boxes or plastic containers so they can be used again next year. You need to keep them in a dry place and not near any electrical source. This is to ensure that the light bulbs do not get shocked and burnt out. Also do not get dust into them as they can short circuit the lights as soon as you plug it in and turn it on.