Lights kept up longer to brighten spirits amid pandemic

Some British Columbians are keeping the holiday decorations up longer this year as a way to combat the COVID-19 blues.

A new survey for BC Hydro finds four in five British Columbians put up holiday decorations or lights over the holiday season – and about 50 per cent of those decorated indoors and outdoors.

Of those who decorated, nearly 40 per cent put decorations up earlier than usual. And when it came time to take them down in the New Year, about 40 per cent decided to leave them up longer.

“While there are many reasons British Columbians have chosen to extend the holiday season, those who are keeping their holiday decorations up longer this year overwhelmingly say they want to brighten up the COVID-19 winter. Many British Columbians also acknowledge spending more time at home is a reason to keep them up longer this year,” a BC Hydro news release said.

The Crown-owned power company said decorating is one of few traditions that was COVID-proof, and that may be why so many will keep them up longer than ever. About 10 per cent of British Columbians expect to keep them up past mid-January – with some planning to wait until February or later to take them down.