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

[Anonymous]

The answer is a definite maybe.

Jewish people tend not to decorate at all for the holidays. Putting lights up is not part of our tradition. You might see a menorah in the window during Hannukah.

Now, my Jewish neighbor puts out a big Santa.

[Anonymous]

Not a silly question at all -- whether because of the Israeli flag colors or just as an alternative to red and green, blue and silver have become the colors commonly associated with commercial Hannukah products and decorations -- e.g., wrapping paper, candles, etc. At the same time, blue has become a popular color for Christmas lights; not signifying anything, people just get tired of the same old, same old after a while. (Similarly, there's been a swing away from white lights and back to the big muilti-colored light strands that boomers remember from childhood -- it's just part of the whole retro thing. Come to think of it, wasn't blue and silver a popular Christmas color scheme in the '70s?) Finally, the newer energy-efficient "white" lights put out a blue-ish light, rather than the yellow-ish tint that the old "white" lights give off, so that might also contribute to people thinking about using the cobalt blue ones along with the new, blue-ish ones.

[Anonymous]

To add some levity to the snark, my grandmother put a red bulb in her porch light when she was about 85 years old b/c she thought it was pretty. My mom didn't have the guts to tell her what a red light signified (grandma was from Russia), so it stayed in for about 12 mos.

I growing up, there were some Jewish families in our neighborhood who decorated with with blue lights.

[Anonymous]

21:07 We have Finnish neighbors and they do have their house decorated with blue and white lights. Not sure if it means anything.

[Anonymous]

http://www.ehow.com/facts_5797885_do-blue-holiday-lights-mean_.html

Blue lights for Hanukkah
3. Hanukkah is the Jewish holiday that is celebrated around the same time as Christmas. Many Jewish families decorate a "Hanukkah bush" as part of their celebration. Obviously, Jewish families would not wish to decorate with colors or symbols that are predominantly associated with the Christian religion. Blue and white are traditionally colors associated with Hanukkah celebrations, so it makes sense that blue lights would be used in decorating for the holiday.

Mourning
4. Historically, blue lights also have been used by families who are in mourning during the Christmas season. Blue serves as a more somber color to decorate with.

Honoring the dead and supporting our troops
5. Along the same lines, blue lights have been used more recently to show support and honor for fallen police officers, firefighters and members of the Armed Services. They are also used to signify that a household supports and remembers troops who are abroad during the holiday season.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Well said! So do I! Blue is a color used alot in Judaism..on the Israeli flag, on the tallit, etc. etc..

[Anonymous]

The red, green, and white lights and decorations in front of my house signify that I am Italian-American.

What? There are other reasons to choose those colors for Christmas lights?!

[Anonymous]

No.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I would've guessed the same things - blue lights = Jewish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To add some levity to the snark, my grandmother put a red bulb in her porch light when she was about 85 years old b/c she thought it was pretty. My mom didn't have the guts to tell her what a red light signified (grandma was from Russia), so it stayed in for about 12 mos.

I growing up, there were some Jewish families in our neighborhood who decorated with with blue lights.

LOL!! That's great!

Our neighbors put one in for Christmas, I might have to joke with them about this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To add some levity to the snark, my grandmother put a red bulb in her porch light when she was about 85 years old b/c she thought it was pretty. My mom didn't have the guts to tell her what a red light signified (grandma was from Russia), so it stayed in for about 12 mos.

I growing up, there were some Jewish families in our neighborhood who decorated with with blue lights.

Interesting beause fraternity houses at the Univ. Of Pennsylvania also had to put out a red light when females were in the house. Double standard!

[Anonymous]

For you snarkers, this isn't a crazy question. I know a few Jewish people who intentionally chose blue or blue and white lights. At least one is an interfaith couple, and the blue and white IS a nod to Judaism. I had a whole conversation about it with these neighbors.

[Anonymous]

The are in training to be the light bulb guy at K-mart so they are practicing at home

go knock on the door if you want to know the answer

[Anonymous]

We had Jewish neighbors growing up who decorated with blue lights. I have lots of Jewish friends now, and one decorates with white lights and the rest don't do lights, as far as I can recall. So I would say, re the original Q: maybe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To add some levity to the snark, my grandmother put a red bulb in her porch light when she was about 85 years old b/c she thought it was pretty. My mom didn't have the guts to tell her what a red light signified (grandma was from Russia), so it stayed in for about 12 mos.

A friend of mine, also Russian, arrived here with his family and very little money when he was a child. They shopped at Goodwill. His 40ish mother picked out a brightly colored (think 80s neon) sweatshirt emblazoned with Like A Virgin. She wore it constantly, until her children picked up enough English to know what it meant and make her stop wearing it.