美国国家公共电台 NPR--When should you put up Christmas lights? A new survey illuminates an evergreen debate

When should you put up Christmas lights? A new survey illuminates¹ an evergreen² debate

Transcript³

It might be the most wonderful time of the year, but that won't stop the debate over the appropriate time to hang up Christmas lights.

The home improvement website House Method surveyed almost 4,000 U.S. homeowners to ask them what day is acceptable to begin decorating.

Dec. 1 was the most common response, but most people said they planned to begin earlier than that, in early to mid-November.

The survey also found that procrastination⁴ over decorating is real, with almost 3% saying they'd hang up their lights on Christmas Day itself.

House Method's David Cusick calls that "a little wild."

"I don't think my wife will let me get away with trying to do presents and hang up Christmas lights on December 25th," Cusick said.

The website also found some differences by state. While a majority of states — 34 out of 50 — believe that hanging up lights before Thanksgiving is too early, people in Georgia responded that October is the earliest they'd display lights.

"Maybe they just want to get in the holiday spirit a little early," said Cusick.

NPR did a much smaller, much less scientific survey: asking Black Friday shoppers in Beacon⁵, New York when they thought the best time to hang Christmas lights is.

"Today, the day after Thanksgiving," was the view of Hakiem Simmons. But he doesn't begrudge⁶ those who got an earlier start.

"I used to be a person who did not particularly like Christmas, but as I get older and more festive⁷, you have to capitalize on those days that you have. So I highly recommend whatever day feels comfortable for you and your family, start there," Simmons added.

Fellow shopper Robin⁸ Cullen agreed that after Thanksgiving is preferable. "I like to keep the holidays separate, to be able to enjoy each one."

Daria Pugh might end up being one of those last-minute light hangers⁹.

"I feel like it's the day before Christmas. It's not the best day, but that's when it happens," Pugh said.

Even if you get a late start on putting up your lights, maybe you'll enjoy them for a lot longer than most. The House Method survey found that 4% of homeowners will leave their Christmas lights up all year.

They might have been inspired by the British glam-rock band Wizzard's 1973 hit "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday."

1 illuminates   

v.使明亮( illuminate的第三人称单数 )；照亮；装饰；说明

参考例句：

• The light shines on from over there and illuminates the stage. 灯光从那边照进来，照亮了舞台。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The sun illuminates the sky. 太阳照亮了天空。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 evergreen   

n.常青树；adj.四季常青的

参考例句：

• Some trees are evergreen;they are called evergreen.有的树是常青的，被叫做常青树。
• There is a small evergreen shrub on the hillside.山腰上有一小块常绿灌木丛。

3 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

4 procrastination   

n.拖延，耽搁

参考例句：

• Procrastination is the father of failure. 因循是失败的根源。
• Procrastination is the thief of time. 拖延就是浪费时间。

5 beacon   

n.烽火，（警告用的）闪火灯，灯塔

参考例句：

• The blink of beacon could be seen for miles.灯塔的光亮在数英里之外都能看见。
• The only light over the deep black sea was the blink shone from the beacon.黑黢黢的海面上唯一的光明就只有灯塔上闪现的亮光了。

6 begrudge   

vt.吝啬，羡慕

参考例句：

• I begrudge spending so much money on train fares.我舍不得把这么多钱花在火车票上。
• We should not begrudge our neighbour's richness.我们不应该嫉妒邻人的富有。

7 festive   

adj.欢宴的，节日的

参考例句：

• It was Christmas and everyone was in festive mood.当时是圣诞节，每个人都沉浸在节日的欢乐中。
• We all wore festive costumes to the ball.我们都穿着节日的盛装前去参加舞会。

8 robin   

n.知更鸟，红襟鸟

参考例句：

• The robin is the messenger of spring.知更鸟是报春的使者。
• We knew spring was coming as we had seen a robin.我们看见了一只知更鸟，知道春天要到了。

9 hangers   

n.衣架( hanger的名词复数 )；挂耳

参考例句：

• The singer was surrounded by the usual crowd of lackeys and hangers on. 那个歌手让那帮总是溜须拍马、前呼後拥的人给围住了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I want to put some of my good hangers in Grandpa's closet. 我想在爷爷的衣橱放几个好的衣架。 来自辞典例句