One Australian family is setting the bar extremely high this season in terms of Christmas decor. With over 500,000 lights (502,165 to be exact), lawyer David Richards and co began their flashy display back in October, needing this head start in order to string up [31 miles of lights.](http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/11/26/247164212/500-000-lights-familys-christmas-display-sets-new-world-record) If this sounds like alot, it is: the family was recently [visited by the Guinness Book of World Records](http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2013/11/video-most-christmas-lights-53092-53138/) to confirm this as the largest Christmas light decoration of all time. This isn't the first time the Richards family has attempted immortal fame--in 2011 they won the same award for their previous record of 330,000 lights, before losing the title in 2012.

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An Australian family has set the Guinness World Record for having the most Christmas lights on their home. Friends and neighbours showed up to take a closer look at the 502,165 Christmas lights that illuminate the residential property of David Richards and his family in Canberra. It's not the first time that the Richards family strung up a record number of lights; they set a record in 2011 with 331,038 fairy lights, but were trumped in 2012 by a New York family. Report by Sophie Foster.

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Christmas world record: Australian family rig 502,165 lights

The _Rocky_ of extreme home lighting, the comeback family decided to go eco-friendly this year by using LED lights instead of the usual hardware store screw-in staple. Costing $2,291 in electic bills each month, their local electric company has been working with the family to help them run on renewable power so they don't completely mess up the environment.

Before you start to hate the Richards family for their ridiculousness, they _are_ using the display [for good](http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/canberra-house-shatters-christmas-lights-record-20131125-2y4nj.html). After losing a child to SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) in 2003, the family is seeking to generate attention and funds for families struggling with similar losses. In 2011 they raised $78,000 for grief counselors, and hope with this new (literal) limelight will help achieve a donation of $100,000 for charity.

via [Inhabitat](http://inhabitat.com/family-shocks-guinness-world-records-by-hanging-over-500000-christmas-lights/)

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500,000 Christmas Lights Break Guinness World Record

FYI.

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500,000 Christmas Lights Break Guinness World Record

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