The story of Christmas tree lights begins in Germany during the 17th century. These first lights consisted of little more than candles, strategically placed on the family Christmas tree. Some early celebrators of Christmas attached candles to their trees with pins while others simply adhered them using a little hot wax.
In the year 1882, new age of electricity spread its influence to Christmas lights. Thomas Edison is credited with being the first to decorate the exterior of his laboratory with lights while his friend Edward Johnson is credited with being the first to put electric lights on a Christmas tree. Image the excitement of New York City residents as they witnessed the glow of the first electric Christmas lights. They must have seemed much more convenient than all those candles. Though the first tree in 1882 was lit with individual bulbs, Edward Johnson gleamed in his success and soon engineered the first string of Christmas lights, which would hit the shelves of retailers around the country by 1900. These lights were very expensive however, and most people could not afford them.
The evolution of Christmas candles and electric Christmas lights seems to have happened almost simultaneously. In 1890, candleholders were designed specifically for Christmas tree use. It was not until 1902 that candle users began to get creative, inventing lanterns and glass balls, which could more safely enclose Christmas candles. Even at this time, most people were still using candles, as they were much more affordable.
In 1917, a fifteen-year-old boy named Albert Sadacca dreamed of a safer Christmas lights. Though the business began humbly with only a hundred or so sets sold the first year, Sadacca's invention soon turned into a multi-million dollar business. By 1930, electric Christmas lights were the accepted standard of Christmas decorating. However, the story does not stop there.
Over the years, Christmas lights have evolved to fit the needs and dreams of an ever-changing society.
Lights began to go beyond just brightening our homes and trees with special effects. New structural designs allowed them to be hung from homes like icicles. Others began blinking, a trait appreciated much more by some than others. Some lights were even equipped with a sound box so the lights would play favorite Christmas carols, blinking along with the chorus. In addition to adding a variety of effects, Christmas lights have steady shrunk in size but not in brightness.
LEDs are the newest addition to the Christmas light evolution. Though these lights are more expensive than more popular versions they seem to last a lot longer than your typical Christmas lights. They are also more efficient using less electricity and giving off far less heat. LED's sure seem to be the ultimate in Christmas lights, but one cannot help but wonder what they will think of next.
Christmas lights have come a long way since their humble beginnings. However, I suspect that the feelings of joy and holiday cheer, which Christmas lights evoke today is quite similar to the emotion, felt by early tree gazers.