Now bus tours, limos, and what he estimates are about 10,000 extra cars motor past his Aurora, Colo., front-yard extravaganza. As the tourists gawk at Santa's posterior hanging out of his chimney, Mr. Gluba often stands outside, dressed in his own Santa suit, handing out candy canes. William Zapf and his family decorate their house in Cincinnati every Christmas. Yes, it's that time of year when homeowners forget about their electric bills, clamber atop their roofs to install reindeer and sleighs, and provide enough candlepower to attract airline pilots. And the robust economy has given dedicated holiday decorators the cash to let every childhood fantasy about the holiday come to life in sound and lights.
Newspapers print maps and driving directions so motorists can experience the light shows firsthand.
And, now, homeowners are putting their displays on the Web, explaining how to make bears shimmy up electric candy canes or how to slingshot lights over 40-foot firs. Although no one keeps track of how many Christmas lights are in use around the country, there are enough lights twinkling that at least one state, California, is concerned that they might cause a blackout this winter. The California Independent System Operator, which runs the electric system for about 75 percent of the state, estimates the Christmas lights consume about 1,000 megawatts of electricity, enough to serve 1 million homes. To avoid rotating blackouts, the ISO is asking residents not to turn on their holiday lights until after 7 p.m. On Tuesday, to emphasize California's predicament, Gov. Gray Davis turned on the state's official Christmas tree and then turned it off after 30 minutes. The tree will stay dark as long as the state's shortfall continues.