There are people who love Christmas, and then there are people who go crazy for Christmas. Just look at this elaborately decorated home in Queens, New York, by retired firefighter Kevin Lynch and photographed by Robert Ondrovic. He says Lynch has been decorating his home for the past 17 years.
Marlo Cueto photographed an annual lights and sound show in the Philippines. "With thousands of lights dangling from the trees of Ayala Triangle Gardens, people enjoyed watching the show as the lights of variety of colors dance to the tune of Christmas medley," he says. This year's show is dedicated to the victims of the recent typhoon.
It looks like some Christmas fairies have gone wild on this garden bench and flowers. Brian Xavier took this photo at the Garden D'Lights show -- an annual Christmas lights event put on by the Bellevue Botanical Garden in Washington, U.S. "This is a garden bench scene that gave me the thought that the gardener had just stepped away and left her work for us to see."
London, like many cities, gets its fair share of Christmas decorations. Tomas Burian took this shot in the central Covent Garden. He says Christmas time is the best time of the year. "I always look forward to Christmas, as I get to travel back home to my family in the Czech Republic."
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- People across the world sent pictures of the most stunning and outrageous Christmas displays
- One man in the U.S. used more than 300,000 lights and 350 figurines
- Philippines giving U.S. a run for the title of world champion Christmas fanatics
Some people like Christmas. Some people love Christmas. And some people are so overcome by their love for the holiday season they decorate homes, gardens, even their vehicles in decorations so spectacular you have to worry about their energy bills.
CNN asked people across the world to send in the most stunning and outrageous Christmas displays they had seen. We received submissions from the Dominican Republic to Russia, all of which displayed the inventiveness of people during the holiday season.
The U.S., of course, is where outrageous Christmas displays have been elevated to an art form. Robert Ondrovic’s image of his neighbor Kevin Lynch’s house in Queens, New York, shows a house so festooned with lights and decorations it’s hard to make out the front door. Lynch, a retired firefighter, reportedly used more than 300,000 lights and 350 figurines.
“I was amazed at the display, including the total amount of lights and figurines,” Ondrovic said. “Plus, Kevin plays Christmas music outdoors.”
"Our yard is always full of pigs and gnomes," says Mike Matney. "It's a running joke within the family and you never know when a pig is going to show up in a suitcase when we go on a trip."
Misael photographed the Christmas spirit of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. He says the photo portrays "the joy of our people, my people are very happy despite the problems we have, we always see the positive in life."
To Robert Ondrovic, Christmas in New York City is always magical, "with the Radio City show, the Rockefeller Center tree with the ice skaters below, the window displays along fifth avenue and the overall spirit in the air with all the visitors this time of year."
Seoul's Shinsegae Department Store, covered in lights, was this year's first encounter with real Christmas decorations for American Korean language student Morgan Brenner. "I sent the photo to friends and family in the US, and my father commented that Seoul seemed far more Christmassy than my hometown in Ohio at the time."
The German-speaking Italian province of South Tyrol is a popular destination for tourists wanting to experience some of its famous Christmas markets. PGPescali was working on a feature in South Tyrol when he decided to capture the festivities. "I like colors and lights, the best time to see them is when it snows," he said.
But the U.S. now faces stiff international competition. In the Philippines, where Christmas celebrations are taken so seriously they begin in September, the light displays are so bright they seem like they could be visible from space. iReporter Marlo Cueto took some stunning images of families enjoying a beautiful light show in Pasay City.
“I think the show’s significance is to make people feel the excitement and happiness of Christmas in the middle of a busy district,” he said. “It brings people together, friends and families.”
Meanwhile in the Caribbean, Misael Rincon sent in a series of colorful, Day-Glo shots of Christmas decorations in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. But while the decorations are playful, the sentiment behind them rings true for Misael.
“[Christmas is] a moment to share with family, the arrival of loved ones who are living outside the country,” he said. “[It’s about] love, faith and hope for the coming of God in a humble manger.”
Of course it’s not just homes, stores and public spaces that benefit from a sprinkling of tinsel and fairy lights — many like to deck out their vehicles as well. Paul Tamasi, from Cambridge, Vermont, spotted this decked out truck festooned with lights and couldn’t resist taking a quick shot.
“I saw this this truck drive by my restaurant,” the pizza parlor owner said. “I jumped in my truck and followed it until I saw it make a stop. My hands got pretty cold capturing it!”
And decorations don’t have to be massive to have an effect. Daniel Incandela started collecting quirky Christmas tree ornaments three years ago. A “Star Wars” Stormtrooper with a Christmas hat is one of his latest finds to festoon his Christmas tree. “I have a fair share of decent Christmas decorations that range from Robots to a Harrods Bear to Elvis,” he said proudly.
At times the lights can serve a better, brighter purpose than merely entertaining the public. In the Philippines, Richelle Jagonia-Rivera captured a beautiful shot of Christmas lights in Tangub City, said to be the Christmas capital of the country’s northern Mindanao region.
Erin McCormack was visiting Paris during a Thanksgiving vacation with her sister and a friend when she came across this light installation. "It definitely put me in more of a holiday spirit," she says.
This beautiful "Field of Lights", by artist Bruce Munro, can be found in Pennsylvania's Longwood Gardens, who have an annual Christmas display. Mickey Raine and his wife Elaine count themselves lucky to be living close to it, "it's hard to fathom anyone loving the Christmas festivities each year there as much as we do," Mickey said.
Daniel Incandela started collecting quirky Christmas tree ornaments three years ago. This is one of his newest additions, a "Star Wars" Stormtrooper with a Christmas hat.
Quirky Christmas ornaments seem to be the way to go. Coty L. Reed bought this rock star nutcracker in 2011, and it always makes it to the branches of their tree. "My son, Jameson, LOVES nutcrackers," she said. "I believe he is definitely English - seems to have a John Lennon style to me."
Berlin lights up during Christmas time, and there are markets and Christmas displays around every corner. iReporter markpel took this photo of a giant Santa Claus in the western inner city, close to the famous luxury department store KaDeWe.
This old truck wrapped in Christmas lights was on display in the Hudson Gardens in Littleton, Colorado. "During the winter season when it is too cold for folks to sit outside and enjoy a music concert, Hudson Gardens decorates their facility with thousands of Christmas holiday lighting," John C. Bielick said. "When I see the Christmas decorations in the wintery cold, I get a feeling of warmth inside."
More Christmas trucks! "I've seen [the trucks] come by before, but I've never been able to catch them," said Paul Tamasi, who shot this photo on December 11.
Victoria Agronskaya discovered this beautifully decorated fountain in the GUM department store in Moscow, Russia. "The GUM fountain is the most famous fountain in Moscow," Victoria explains. This year, the water has been replaced with Christmas toys and there is a small Christmas market surrounding it.
Richelle82 says Christmas is a big holiday in the Philippines. "Just like the rest of the world, the Philippines celebrates Christmas in a joyful way," she said. "There will always be Christmas spirit in the Philippines no matter how many calamities have hit the country."
This is the largest Christmas lights display in the Royal Oak area, according to Sean Fleming. He says this is the 35th and final year they will be on display. "I feel it will be a little less festive without the lights and I will have to go somewhere else to soak in the lights," he said.
Coming from a country still recovering from the catastrophic impact of Typhoon Haiyan, the lights for her were a reminder that the country can still celebrate the festive season.
“There will always be Christmas spirit in the Philippines, no matter how many calamities have had hit the country,” she said. “The Philippines has the festive spirit with hospitality at its best.”
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