If you’re a fan of the classic Christmas movie “Christmas Vacation,” you’ve probably noticed the extravagant light display on the Griswold family’s home. But have you ever wondered just how many lights were used in that iconic scene? We did some digging to find out.
First off, it’s important to note that there are actually two different light displays featured in the movie. The first is a modest display that Clark Griswold puts up himself, which includes a few strands of lights and some illuminated reindeer. The second, more elaborate display is installed by Clark’s redneck cousin-in-law, Eddie, and features an astonishing amount of lights.
So how many lights were used in each display? Let’s start with Clark’s.
In one scene, he can be seen untangling a ball of Christmas lights, and he mentions that he’s working with “250 strands of lights with 100 bulbs per strand” – that adds up to a total of 25,000 individual bulbs! That’s certainly not a small amount of Christmas cheer.
But as impressive as Clark’s display is, it pales in comparison to the one installed by Eddie. When Clark first sees the display, he asks Eddie how many bulbs are on it – and Eddie proudly responds that there are “250 strands of imported Italian twinkle lights..25 bulbs per strand, for a grand total of 6,250 imported Italian twinkle lights!”
If you do the math, that means Eddie’s display boasts a mind-boggling 156,250 individual bulbs. That’s enough to light up several city blocks!
Of course, it’s worth noting that this is just an estimate based on what we see in the movie – it’s possible that there are even more lights than we realize. But regardless of the exact number, there’s no denying that both displays are incredibly impressive (and incredibly energy-intensive).
So next time you watch “Christmas Vacation,” take a moment to appreciate the sheer amount of work and electricity that went into those dazzling light displays. And if you’re feeling inspired, maybe try putting up a few extra strands of lights yourself – just be sure to watch your energy bill!