LEWISTON – What’s behind all those displays?

Elaine Makas, a social psychologist at Lewiston-Auburn College, offers a few reasons why people – often men – spend weeks in the cold setting up holiday displays, then pay for bigger electric bills.

So everyone can lighten up, Makas said.

“It’s been kind of a rough year for everybody. There’s been so much sad and bad news with the hurricanes, the war dragging on, the economy being shaky,” Makas said. Adding to that, December has little light. It’s dark when we get up. It’s dark when we get out of work.

“People are making use of the holiday in a very, very nice way to brighten up the lives of people,” Makas said.

The spectacular Christmas displays work, she said. “I don’t have to go out and spend a lot of money to find the holiday spirit. I can find it by driving by Sheffield Avenue, Cram Avenue, Montello or Webster streets.”

Holiday decorations are a way of reminding everyone we all have things to be happy about, Makas said.

While some may complain the displays take away from the meaning of Christmas, Makas disagreed. “Christmas is supposed to be about happiness, sharing with other people, about joy.”

– Bonnie Washuk