Do blue lights decorating the outside of someone's home signify a person is jewish?

[Anonymous]

my DH and I were driving this evening and we passed a house that had all blue lights and my DH said, "do blue lights signify a person is Jewish"? And I didn't know. Does anyone know if that is a traditional Jewish decoration and if so why blue?

[Anonymous]

Why on earth would you think that? Of course it doesn't mean that. It's a color.

[Anonymous]

No. We had a string of blue lights growing up (and are not Jewish). My husband is Jewish and thinks that lights outside a home signify a Christian home.

[Anonymous]

I would have guessed Jewish. Is this why blue? "The basic design [of the flag of Israel] recalls the Tallit, the Jewish prayer shawl, which is white with blue stripes." Wikipedia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:my DH and I were driving this evening and we passed a house that had all blue lights and my DH said, "do blue lights signify a person is Jewish"? And I didn't know. Does anyone know if that is a traditional Jewish decoration and if so why blue?

There was a time when blue lights were associated with "Chanukah (sp?) Bushes" as opposed to Christmas Trees and blue lights and silver were the colors used. Now, I don't think it makes a bit of difference.

[Anonymous]

http://poolandpatio.about.com/od/holidaydecoratingideas/tp/Hanukkah-Decorations.htm

This does not mean that all blue lights are used by Jewish families, but it indicates that the question had some basis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why on earth would you think that? Of course it doesn't mean that. It's a color.

What a nasty response. I'm Jewish and I wasn't even sure of the anwer to that one. The Israeli Flag is blue and white.

[Anonymous]

The Greek flag is also blue and white. No one thinks blue lights mean you're Greek.

...do they?

[Anonymous]

The Finnish flag also is blue and white, just to add into this mix.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why on earth would you think that? Of course it doesn't mean that. It's a color.

I thought it did. Geez, don't have to be so snarky.

[Anonymous]

I'm going to go with sometimes, but not always. As with most things in life. I have jewish friends whose kids really wanted to decorate with lights, so the parents picked blue lights. I also have pillar-of-the-church african american neighbors who go all blue, because they think it's pretty, I guess.

Now, a lit-up nativity scene on the lawn... that's a pretty good indication that the homeowner is christian!

[Anonymous]

Or, it could be a family with at least one Jewish member who doesn't feel comfortable with the whole Christmas tree and wreath thing but could tolerate lights - as long as they are blue and white, which are the colors American Jews use to celebrate Hannukah.

[Anonymous]

I think it means they waited too long to buy their lights and this is the color that was left.

Seriously, tho, I think it's just an aesthetic choice, but, yeah, I did know folks back in DC who put up blue and white lights.

[Anonymous]

Someone did this in our neighborhood. It looks really pretty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Greek flag is also blue and white. No one thinks blue lights mean you're Greek.

...do they?

I don't know any Greeks who make it a point to hang blue and white lights. However, there are Jewish people who do.

I think that is relevant.