Germany: Not So Bright As Green Leaders Call For Less Christmas Lights

It is already October and as Christmas quickly approaches, travelers are planning to visit the famous Christmas markets of Germany to buy their gifts. In fact, Germany is renowned for its festive markets and impressive light displays. However, things may change in the run-up to the coming holidays. A German environmental group is urging the government to ask citizens to keep Christmas lights to a minimum this year. Meanwhile, as Europe struggles with skyrocketing energy bills and shortages of gas, wouldn’t this be a good idea?

Environmental group calls for fewer Christmas lights

The Christmas song Silent Night may say that “all is calm” and “all is bright”, but maybe it will be a little dimmed this year.

Deutsche Umwelthilfe is an environmental advocacy group in Germany that has asked the government to urge citizens to turn off their Christmas lights. While this may sound “bah humbug” (a grumpy dislike of something generally enjoyable) it does make sense. Yes, even if we have gone through two-and-a-half years of the pandemic. If citizens turn off or use less Christmas lighting, this would save energy. Moreover, with Russia holding back natural gas supplies, it can only help.

Meanwhile, the German government has reportedly already introduced a number of measures to save energy this winter. These include lowering the maximum room temperature in public and office buildings. It also involves switching off lights on Berlin’s monuments, including the Brandenburg Gate pictured below.

While these measures will surely help, none of the new rules apply to individual citizens. However, with Christmas fast approaching, many have raised the issue of the energy spent on Germany’s famous Christmas markets with their sparkling lights and decorations.

A festive mood in Germany doesn’t need so many Christmas lights

Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH) is a politically independent, non-profit group that has been working for environmental protection and a sustainable lifestyle for 40 years. According to them, with the energy crisis, Christmas lights in homes and cities should be turned off this year.

Jürgen Resch, DUH Federal Managing Director, explained that they are not calling for Christmas markets to be canceled, adding:

These can and should also be able to take place this year. But a festive mood does not include orgies of light and illumination as in earlier years.

In fact, Resch says that turning down the Christmas illuminations this year could lead to a more thoughtful celebration. He told Euronews:

A contemplative mood is perhaps even more likely to arise if [we are more selective with our decorations in] this special time of year.

Resch explained that several department store chains in Switzerland have already decided to use no special Christmas lighting on their buildings. He said this is also an example for Germany to follow.

Moreover, DUH says that private households used 6 percent more electricity for Christmas lighting that in the previous year. This meant that a total of 623 million kWh were consumed. Meanwhile, this is the same as the annual consumption for a city with 400,000 inhabitants. Obviously, this is a huge amount of energy, to be expended on Christmas lighting alone.

Resch says that with this data in mind, turning off the Christmas lights would be nothing short of revolutionary. Not only would it save energy, but it would aid climate protection. He added:

Moderation also applies to the excessive lighting of private houses, apartment facades and gardens decorated with thousands of lights, which has increased sharply in recent years.

Will Germany dim the festive lights this year?

Christmas markets and festive illumination is very much a part of Germany’s traditions over the holiday. In fact, the country’s Christmas markets are among the most famous and popular in the world. So far, it is hard to gauge how Germans would react to switching off the festive lights this year. This not only relates to the markets but also to private homes. In fact, like many people in the US, Germans love to decorate their homes with many twinkling lights.

Until it gets closer to the time, it is unknown whether the towering Christmas trees in the squares of many German towns will not be lit. It is equally unknown whether the Christmas markets will take that big step and unplug their festive lights.