Tag Archives: christmas

Beauteous, Heavenly Lights

Posted by Nathalie Mariano on November 26, 2012 Culture, Design christmas, lighting, winter holidays

Makati City, Philippines. Image via Travel and Positive Living.

I think light is one of the most beautiful things ever. We may analyze it in terms of waves or particles and what-not, but it is only in the experience of it that we know how truly amazing it is, how lovely it is, and how essential it is to life.

It symbolizes goodness, warmth, and freedom from darkness. The luminous always brings hope and gives a glimpse of the infinite. No wonder we’ve got a kind of primal urge that draws us towards bright, shiny, sparkly things, which are a respite from the blanket of night.

And during the holiday season, nothing fills the atmosphere with giddiness and joy better than twinkling, flashing, glimmering lights. Light is more than decor — it is art medium, merriness cue, transmitter of good cheer.

Makati City, Philippines. Via Travel and Positive Living.

In the Philippines, folks start counting down to Christmas when the “-ber” months begin (i.e. SeptemBER). The first carols are played, and preparations for everyone’s fave holiday begin. By October, stores start selling Christmas decor (right alongside Halloween stuff), and dazzling displays start to flicker on.

Medellin, Colombia. Via Travel Blog.

This river of light can be found in Medellin, Columbia, complete with lit-up lotus lily pads.

Rio de Janeiro light display. Via Santa Barbara Independent.

Brazilians really know how to make an impact. — that tree is 85 meters tall, and is the main feature of a huge Christmas light show! That speck of light on top of that shadowy hill is the statue of Christo Redentor.

Car light sculpture. Tokyo, Japan. Via Walltor.

How cool is this luminous light sculpture? It’s like a wireframe rendering of a vintage car.

Light tunnel, Tokyo. Via Japan Dish.

Can you imagine walking through this tunnel of light? I bet it feels magical.

Orchard Road, Singapore. Via Kidlander.

These fabulous arches of light make a gorgeous canopy for the motorists and pedestrians of orchard road.

Shadrack, North Carolina. Via Visit!

Luminaria de Cagna, made with 55,000 LED lights.

Lichtfestival (Light Festival), Ghent, Belgium. Via Colossal.

The Luminaria de Cagna is a cathedral made of 55,000 LED lights which was on display in the Festival of Lights held in Belgium in January of this year. Wondering what wonders the next festival holds.

House in Frisco, Texas. Via About.com Dallas.

How about this residence adorned with what seems like thousands and thousands of twinkling lights? And there’s music that goes with it too.

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Posted in Culture, Design | Tagged christmas, lighting, winter holidays

Baubles and Balls

Posted by Nathalie Mariano on December 5, 2011 Culture, Design christmas, decorating, holidays, winter holidays

Antique Silver Baubles. Image via Dee Puddy.

I’ve got a thing for Christmas balls.

I’m generally fascinated by circles and spheres because of their symmetry, their mathematical perfection, and their arcs and curves that just go on and on. Add some sparkle and flash to that equation, and suddenly there’s light reflecting and refracting in infinite splendid ways!

So why confine all that fabulousness to the Christmas tree? There are a lot of other places that could use the sprinkle of shimmer that these brilliant orbs could bring. Here are but a few.

The Ceiling

There’s always a wow factor in beautiful things that are above eye level. There’s an element of surprise, because we don’t see them unless we look up, and there’s a sense of awe and big-ness, even if they look small. I think it’s related to our love for the sun, moon, and stars, and everything else we see up there — clouds, airplanes, rainbows.