The lights of Christmas, magic and spell precious goods - Lifestyle

But how beautiful are the streets, the villages, the cities, the terraces and the views with all the Christmas lights?

The lights, which in some cases are almost artistic installations, immediately make Christmas and make the atmosphere of this period a little more magical.

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Christmas, the lights in the world - Lifestyle

There is even a study, released in early December 2021 by researchers from English and Irish universities, which scientifically testifies to what such installations cause in us. Our reaction is

that the authors themselves relaunch by proposing the artist's lights to 'Intangible Cultural Heritage', as defined and recognized by UNESCO as

.

“Illuminating the deep darkness with riots of lights is lost in the mists of time. The metamorphosis of darkness illuminated by fires, bonfires, magic lanterns, Chinese shadows and in modern times the artistic light installations,

and corresponds to enchantment, which means enchantment, magic, seduction, full satisfaction, - explain to ANSA Jane Lovell and Howard Griffin, authors of the study published in Annals of Tourism Research. - Everyone remains enchanted, not just children, because, remaining physically immobile, one feels pierced, bewitched by the sight. At the same time, the mind remains hyper-aware. What you are seeing in those lights is therefore magical, impossible to the point of transcending the laws of physics. It is also destabilizing. There is a

and that double sensation is incredibly pleasant, having repercussions on our well-being ”.

With the winter festivals, the villages become enchanted landscapes that convey fantastic narratives so as to destabilize even the classical cultural heritage of individual countries, cities and villages that take on a fantastic, fairytale-like aspect.

Thus science explains the enormous and growing success of the many light festivals that have been taking place in recent years in many countries of the world and which illuminate the facades of monuments, cathedrals and palaces with special effects, magically transfiguring them so much as to literally leave those who look at them. with open mouth. Like the renowned

, England, which takes place when dark and cold take the seasons, i.e. November, or the

project

which was projected onto the facade of York Minster in North Yorkshire and attracted over 22,000 visitors (in pre-Covid times).

“Even the installations and light shows of the holidays are a factory of spells and evoke the places 'defamiliarizing' and disorienting the visitor, - says Jane Lovell. - The known street or square is altered and becomes another place creating a new magical space that did not exist shortly before. By illuminating historical places in an artistic way, even exaggerating the fairytale associations with these buildings that have witnessed the past, a magical heritage is created, a new wealth. Furthermore, the light installations work just as well, or even better, in modern environments, such as the suburbs, bringing out extraordinary genii locorum ”.

The Christmas light shows also surprise us by making us experience the fantastic. They draw our gaze to the architecture, or to the abstraction of the trees, or to the dark sky beyond the decked out lighting above the street. “Some objects are even exaggerated in scale to superhuman dimensions by light or color.

. Many people have emotional ties to the Christmas season and the lights amplify their feelings by embodying the holiday mood, ”concludes Lovell.

Illuminations can now be seen everywhere, in the streets of the historic centers, in the squares, illuminating the party in Italy and abroad. Now, on holidays, plays of light also color some parks related to fun that have decided to embellish their Christmas villages. At

, on the Via Pontina in Castel Romano, the twinkling lights have become the subject of a real

, a suggestive author's path that accompanies young and old to discover fantastic animals, colorful trees, decorations and light effects to be enjoyed from afternoon until evening. For children, in particular, it is pure magic to raise their noses upwards and see the colors of the rainbow among the stars or drag their parents under the maxi luminous spheres in which it is possible to take souvenir photos of a memorable day among themed attractions. and the highly anticipated meeting with Santa Claus.

But designer lights also illuminate the houses of the Christmas market open until January 9th. From Lapland to Length, on the outskirts of Rome, where Santa Claus moved for a holiday in his

.

In this realm of fantasy, the lights are not only essential to make the hundreds of trees in the natural park that runs alongside the historic national monument shine, but they are also the protagonists of the costumes of the various characters such as those of the Snow Fairies, radiant in their clothes. hi-tech that shine with their own light, happy to donate stardust with related wishes to express.

All around the park there are lights dedicated to the symbols of Christmas, including snowmen, reindeer, bears, flowers and giant stars, nativity scenes and the landlord's sleigh ready to whiz by to "illuminate" the sweet faces of children with smiles.