The magic is irrefutable–the initial stroke of the switch. One second you are in the dark, and the next, you see an eruption of colors throughout the whole neighbourhood. Behind all that flash is, however, often a person climbing on a ladder, and swearing to himself why half of the string should come down again. Get more help here!

Honestly speaking, Christmas lights set-up is not a stroll across the Christmas forest. It is rapture, chilled fingers, some panic and the unpleasant thought that you have traversed the same bit of gutter five times already. The key? Start with a plan. Although it may only be a sketch on the back of a napkin. You will be glad you did, I promise you, when you do not have to go thrusting your cords all over the house, like a tangle of tinsel last year.

It is necessary to choose the right lights. Warm whites are a better choice to give a soft maternal glow, and there are multicolor lights, which shout, “I hereby declare the party! The LED lights are an excellent option, as they consume less energy, have a longer lifespan, and consume less power, which means you will be able to spend more money on an additional cocoa cup. However, here is a tip of the hat, the various kinds of lights should be on different circuits unless you want to create a short circuit and short circuiting is the Grinch of Christmas lights.

And here is a little hint I will tell you: everybody hurries through the hanging. Slow down. Heavy-duty clips should be used rather than tape or nails. It is to your sanity the dependence of the tape peeling off and the nails splitting. Move at a regular speed–clip, stretch, smile, repeat. And do not forget to keep track of the spacing after every few minutes. A distance a little way will afford you the view which you cannot get when you are closely at the object.

The background musicians of holiday lighting are timers. Once it is set and then it does its work. Then you need not kick up, but dive in hot cocoa and bypass the midnight run out in your slippers to unplug the lights.

Now, let’s talk ladders. Everyone has a ladder story. You remember the neighbor of the trash can-walker? Quite amusing, but certainly not secure. Get a good ladder, get somebody to hold on to it, and do not lean over to one side. There is always gravity around, just waiting to remind you that they are in charge.

At the end though, it is all worth it- when you turn that switch on and back to see your house shining like a winter wonderland. The children are pointing, they are smiling and those sore knuckles do not seem to matter anymore.

Then get your lights and your cocoa and perhaps a friend with firmer fingers. There is nothing to be concerned about the mistakes–laugh them off, make amends, and get along. It is the real spirit of the season, after all, since, ultimately, it is not only the bulbs and wires. It is about the sparkle, about the magic and the bling of it.