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🎄🎃🎆 Holiday Atmosphere Scripts for Home Assistant

A collection of three specialized Home Assistant scripts that create various festive lighting effects for different holidays. Each script is optimized for reliability with older smart bulbs.

📖 Table of Contents

📦 Available Scripts

🎃 Halloween Atmosphere

Creates spooky Halloween lighting effects

🎄 Christmas Atmosphere

Creates warm and festive Christmas lighting effects

🎆 New Year Atmosphere

Creates celebratory New Year's Eve lighting effects

✨ Features

  • Dedicated Effects: Each script contains holiday-specific lighting effects
  • Smart Bulb Optimized: Special handling for older Philips Hue bulbs that prevents freezing and unavailability
  • Individual Light Control: Each light gets random variations for organic, lifelike effects
  • Restart Mode: Automatically stops previous effect when starting a new one
  • Error Tolerant: Continues running even if individual lights fail to respond
  • XY Color Space: Uses Zigbee-compatible XY color space for better reliability

📋 Installation

Prerequisites

  • Home Assistant instance
  • RGB-capable smart lights (Philips Hue, WLED, etc.)
  • Lights must support light.turn_on service with xy_color and brightness

Step 1: Add the Scripts

Via UI

  1. Go to Settings → Automations & Scenes → Scripts
  2. Click Create Script (bottom right)
  3. Click the ⋮ menu (top right) → Edit in YAML
  4. Paste the script code for the holiday you want
  5. Click Save

Repeat for each holiday script you want to install.

🎮 Usage

Basic Usage

Start an effect:

service: script.halloween_atmosphere
data:
  lights:
    - light.living_room
    - light.kitchen
    - light.hallway
  effect: hell

Stop the effect:

service: script.halloween_atmosphere
data:
  lights:
    - light.living_room
    - light.kitchen
    - light.hallway
  effect: stop

Switch Between Effects

Simply call the script again with a different effect - it will automatically stop the current one:

service: script.halloween_atmosphere
data:
  lights:
    - light.living_room
  effect: lightning

From the UI

  1. Go to Developer Tools → Services
  2. Select the appropriate script (script.halloween_atmosphere, script.christmas_atmosphere, or script.newyear_atmosphere)
  3. Choose your lights in the lights field
  4. Select effect in the effect dropdown
  5. Click Call Service

In Automations

automation:
  - alias: "Halloween Evening Effect"
    trigger:
      - platform: sun
        event: sunset
    action:
      - service: script.halloween_atmosphere
        data:
          lights:
            - light.living_room
            - light.dining_room
          effect: graveyard

With Dashboard Buttons

type: button
name: "🔥 Hell Fire"
tap_action:
  action: call-service
  service: script.halloween_atmosphere
  data:
    lights:
      - light.living_room
    effect: hell

🔄 Running Scripts Inside Other Scripts

You can call these atmosphere scripts from within other scripts or automations using the script.turn_on service. This is useful for creating complex lighting sequences or triggering effects as part of larger automation workflows.

Basic Script Calling

To call an atmosphere script from another script:

script:
  my_evening_routine:
    alias: "Evening Routine"
    sequence:
      # Turn on lights first
      - service: light.turn_on
        target:
          entity_id:
            - light.living_room
            - light.kitchen
        
      # Wait a moment
      - delay:
          seconds: 2
      
      # Start the Christmas atmosphere effect
      - service: script.turn_on
        target:
          entity_id: script.christmas_atmosphere
        data:
          variables:
            lights:
              - light.living_room
              - light.kitchen
            effect: xmas_fireplace

Waiting for Script Completion

If you need to wait for the atmosphere effect to complete (though these run indefinitely until stopped), you can use script.turn_on with the wait option:

script:
  timed_halloween_effect:
    alias: "Timed Halloween Effect"
    sequence:
      # Start Halloween effect
      - service: script.turn_on
        target:
          entity_id: script.halloween_atmosphere
        data:
          variables:
            lights:
              - light.living_room
            effect: lightning
      
      # Run for 5 minutes
      - delay:
          minutes: 5
      
      # Stop the effect
      - service: script.turn_on
        target:
          entity_id: script.halloween_atmosphere
        data:
          variables:
            lights:
              - light.living_room
            effect: stop

Switching Between Effects in a Script

You can create a script that cycles through multiple effects:

script:
  christmas_show:
    alias: "Christmas Light Show"
    sequence:
      # Effect 1: Tree lights for 3 minutes
      - service: script.turn_on
        target:
          entity_id: script.christmas_atmosphere
        data:
          variables:
            lights:
              - light.living_room
              - light.hallway
            effect: xmas_tree
      - delay:
          minutes: 3
      
      # Effect 2: Snowfall for 3 minutes
      - service: script.turn_on
        target:
          entity_id: script.christmas_atmosphere
        data:
          variables:
            lights:
              - light.living_room
              - light.hallway
            effect: xmas_snowfall
      - delay:
          minutes: 3
      
      # Effect 3: Fireplace for remainder
      - service: script.turn_on
        target:
          entity_id: script.christmas_atmosphere
        data:
          variables:
            lights:
              - light.living_room
              - light.hallway
            effect: xmas_fireplace

Important Notes

  • Mode: Restart: These scripts use mode: restart, which means calling them again will automatically stop the previous effect and start the new one
  • Variables: Always pass parameters using the variables: key when calling via script.turn_on
  • No Wait Needed: Since effects run indefinitely, you don't need to wait for completion unless you're timing the effect duration yourself
  • Stopping Effects: Always call the script with effect: stop to properly restore lights to their previous state

Example: Party Mode Automation

automation:
  - alias: "New Year's Party Sequence"
    trigger:
      - platform: time
        at: "23:50:00"
    action:
      # 10-minute countdown effect
      - service: script.turn_on
        target:
          entity_id: script.newyear_atmosphere
        data:
          variables:
            lights:
              - light.party_room
            effect: nye_countdown
      
      - delay:
          minutes: 10
      
      # Midnight flash at midnight
      - service: script.turn_on
        target:
          entity_id: script.newyear_atmosphere
        data:
          variables:
            lights:
              - light.party_room
            effect: nye_midnight_flash
      
      - delay:
          seconds: 10
      
      # Confetti celebration
      - service: script.turn_on
        target:
          entity_id: script.newyear_atmosphere
        data:
          variables:
            lights:
              - light.party_room
            effect: nye_confetti

🎬 Available Effects by Holiday

🎃 Halloween Effects

Hell (Fire) - Flickering red and orange flames with varying intensities

  • Colors: Pure red, red-orange, orange, dark red
  • Brightness: 100-255 (variable)
  • Transition: 2-4 seconds (smooth)

Lightning - Dramatic white flashes with darkness in between, staggered across lights

  • Colors: White flashes, dark blue ambient
  • Brightness: 3-10 (darkness), 255 (flash)
  • Transition: Instant flashes

Graveyard - Slow, creeping green-blue fog effects with very low brightness

  • Colors: Muted poison green, dark teal, fog blue, moss green
  • Brightness: 30-60 (very dark)
  • Transition: 5-10 seconds (very slow)

Halloween (Classic) - Classic Halloween colors with dynamic transitions

  • Colors: Pumpkin orange, purple, dark purple, poison green, lime green
  • Brightness: 150-220 (bright and festive)
  • Transition: 3-6 seconds (smooth)

Blood Pulse - Deep red heartbeat rhythm with double pulse (LUB-DUB) then darkness

  • Colors: Dark red, blood red, crimson
  • Brightness: 5-200 (wide range for dramatic pulse)
  • Transition: Rhythmic (heartbeat pattern)

Stop - Resets all lights to previous state with smooth 1-second transition

🎄 Christmas Effects

Perfect for cosy evenings – lively but never hectic, designed for relaxing by the fire.

Xmas Tree - Slow multicolor Christmas tree lights (red, green, white)

  • Colors: Red, green, white with warm tones
  • Brightness: 110-180 (warm and inviting)
  • Transition: 2 seconds
  • Cycle: 7-11 seconds between colors

Xmas Snowfall - Lively blue and white snowfall effect

  • Colors: Various blues and cool whites (includes white for brightness)
  • Brightness: 50-135 (more dynamic and lively)
  • Transitions: 2-4 seconds (faster, more energetic)
  • Pattern: Each light dances independently with staggered timing
  • Color hold: 2-3 seconds between changes (quicker shifts)
  • Cycle: 1-2 second breaks between updates (more frequent)
  • Perfect for: Active, playful winter atmosphere

Xmas Fireplace - Realistic warm fireplace glow with organic flame movement

  • Colors: Deep warm orange/amber (0.55, 0.39 with variations)
  • Brightness: 100-180 (warm, cozy fireplace glow)
  • Transitions: 2-4 seconds (smooth, natural flame drift)
  • Pattern: Each light moves independently like real fire
  • Color variation: Random warm color shifts throughout the orange spectrum
  • Cycle: 2-4 second color hold, then shifts organically
  • Perfect for: Cosy evenings, ambient fireplace vibe

Xmas Dinner - Warm champagne-colored candlelight for elegant dinner settings

  • Colors: Warm champagne/golden amber tones (0.45-0.52, 0.40-0.44)
  • Brightness: 95-125 base glow, 140-170 occasional highlights
  • Transitions: 4-8 seconds (very smooth and calm)
  • Pattern: Each light has occasional gentle brightening (30% chance)
  • Highlight duration: 8-12 seconds of gentle glow
  • Cycle: 2-4 second pauses between updates
  • Perfect for: Elegant Christmas dinner atmosphere

Xmas Santa - Calm red, white, and green Santa-inspired effect

  • Colors: Red (Santa suit), white (snow/beard), green (Christmas tree)
  • Brightness: 100-160 (cosy and warm)
  • Transition: 5-8 seconds (very peaceful)
  • Cycle: 8-12 seconds

Xmas Party - Synchronized dance party optimized for older Philips Hue bulbs

  • Colors: Red, green, white (classic Christmas colors)
  • Brightness: 255 full flashes, 100-150 glow between beats
  • Hue-Safe Timing: 100ms per bulb command + 300ms pauses between color changes (prevents freezing)
  • Continuously cycles through 4 party modes, 8 beats each:
    • Random Color Strobe: Each beat flashes random Christmas color at 255, dims to 150
    • Three-Color Cycle: Red → Green → White cycling with recovery pauses
    • Red Strobe: Intense red flashing with Hue-safe delays
    • Dark Solo Spotlight: Each light flashes individually (255) with long recovery pauses
  • 1-second pause between mode changes (allows bulbs to recover)
  • Fully compatible with older Philips Hue bulbs without freezing
  • Perfect for: Party mode without overwhelming older Zigbee hardware

Stop - Restores lights to previous state with smooth 2-second transition

🎆 New Year Effects

Nye Countdown - Accelerating white flash countdown effect

  • Colors: White flashes
  • Brightness: 255 (flash), 5 (darkness)
  • Timing: Increasingly rapid flashes

Nye Confetti - Rapidly changing multicolor confetti effect

  • Colors: Red, blue, purple, white, warm white
  • Brightness: 200-255 (bright and celebratory)
  • Transition: Instant changes

Nye Midnight Flash - Bright flash at midnight with smooth fade

  • Colors: Bright white
  • Brightness: 255 (initial), 120 (fade)
  • Transition: 4 seconds (smooth fade-down)

Nye Sparkler - High-variation sparkling white effect

  • Colors: White with large variations
  • Brightness: 180-255 (bright sparkles)
  • Transition: Instant

Nye Champagne - Warm golden champagne bubble effect

  • Colors: Warm amber/golden tones
  • Brightness: 30-140 (gentle celebration)
  • Transition: 2-6 seconds

Stop - Restores lights to previous state with smooth 1-second transition

🔧 Customization

Adjusting Effect Speed

Find the delay values in the effect and modify:

# Faster (reduce delays)
- delay:
    seconds: "{{ range(2, 4) | random }}"  # Instead of range(4, 7)

# Slower (increase delays)
- delay:
    seconds: "{{ range(6, 10) | random }}"  # Instead of range(4, 7)

Adding Custom Colors

Locate the colors: section or base_xy: in any effect and add your XY coordinates:

colors:
  - - 0.7006  # X coordinate (red)
    - 0.2993  # Y coordinate
  - - 0.2138  # X coordinate (green)
    - 0.7097  # Y coordinate

Adjusting Brightness Range

Modify the brightness_levels: array or range() functions:

brightness_levels:
  - 255  # Maximum
  - 200
  - 150
  - 100  # Minimum

Creating a New Effect

Copy an existing effect block in any script and modify:

# Add to the choose: section
- conditions:
    - condition: template
      value_template: "{{ effect == 'your_effect_name' }}"
  sequence:
    # Your custom effect logic here

Don't forget to add your effect name to the selector options at the top!

📊 Performance Notes

  • CPU Usage: Minimal - scripts run in background
  • Network Traffic: Optimized for Zigbee networks with proper delays
  • Recommended Lights Per Call: Up to 10 lights (more may cause delays on older hubs)
  • Effect Cycle Time: 3-14 seconds depending on effect and randomization

🔄 Compatibility

  • Home Assistant: 2023.x and newer
  • Lights: Any RGB lights supporting light.turn_on with xy_color and brightness
  • Protocols: Zigbee (recommended for Hue), Z-Wave, WiFi
  • Bulbs:
    • ✅ Philips Hue (original & newer models)
    • ✅ WLED
    • ✅ IKEA Tradfri
    • ✅ Dresden Elektronik
    • ✅ Any Zigbee RGB device

🤝 Contributing

Found a bug or want to add a new effect? Feel free to:

  1. Open an issue describing the problem or suggestion
  2. Fork the repository and create a pull request
  3. Share your custom effects in discussions

📝 Version History

v2.0.0 (2025)

  • Split combined script into three dedicated holiday scripts
  • Improved organization and maintainability
  • Each script optimized for its specific holiday

v1.0.0 (2025)

  • Initial release
  • 5 Halloween effects: Hell, Lightning, Graveyard, Halloween, Blood, Stop
  • 5 Christmas effects: Xmas Twinkle, Xmas Tree, Xmas Snowfall, Xmas Candlelight, Xmas Gift Pulse, Stop
  • 5 New Year effects: NYE Countdown, NYE Confetti, NYE Midnight Flash, NYE Sparkler, NYE Champagne, Stop
  • Optimized for older Philips Hue bulbs
  • Full error handling and recovery

⚠️ Disclaimer

These scripts control your smart lights rapidly and with various colors/brightness levels. While optimized for reliability:

  • Test with a small number of lights first
  • Some very old bulbs may still have issues
  • Not responsible for any hardware issues (though none are expected)
  • May cause photosensitive reactions - use caution

📜 License

These projects are provided as-is for personal and commercial use. Feel free to modify and redistribute.

🎃🎄🎆 Happy Holidays!

Created with 💀🎅✨ for the Home Assistant community.

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A comprehensive Home Assistant script that creates various spooky lighting effects for Halloween. Optimized for reliability with older smart bulbs.

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