The History of Home Christmas Lights
The Kindersley Museum of Lights is coming up but do you know the history of putting lights up on your home?
According to the Smithsonian Magazine and TIME magazine, the tradition of putting Christmas lights on homes evolved from the ancient practice of using fire and candles to symbolize warmth, hope, and light during the darkest months of the year.
In Germany during the 17th century, decorating Christmas trees with candles became common. German families would carefully attach small candles to the branches of their Christmas trees to symbolize the light of Christ, this obviously came with a very high risk of fire. Despite that, this form of decoration quickly gained popularity and spread to other countries in Europe.
By the late 19th century, advances in electricity brought new possibilities for lighting. In 1882, Edward H. Johnson, a colleague of Thomas Edison, created the first known electrically lit Christmas tree in his New York home. Johnson’s tree was adorned with red, white, and blue bulbs, and it rotated on an electric stand. This innovative display was groundbreaking, inspiring awe among neighbors and marking the beginning of a new era in holiday lighting. While this idea was exciting, the cost and rarity of electric lights at the time made them an unattainable luxury for most families.
The commercial popularity of Christmas lights began to grow in the early 20th century. General Electric began selling Christmas light kits, making it easier for families to use electric lights safely in their homes. These lights were designed for indoor use, often limited to the Christmas tree. However, as electric lighting became more widespread, families began to experiment with using lights outside. Eventually stores began to sell outdoor Christmas lights, allowing families to decorate the exteriors of their homes, though this was still primarily an urban trend.
The rise of suburban neighborhoods after World War II transformed Christmas light displays. As families moved into larger homes with front yards and neighborhood streets, decorating the outside of the house became a way to share the joy of the holiday season.
The 1960s and 1970s brought further innovation to Christmas lighting. During this time, manufacturers introduced new colors, shapes, and sizes of lights. Miniature Christmas lights became particularly popular, as they were affordable and safer than larger bulbs. Lights were easier to string around windows, eaves, and trees, giving people more flexibility in how they decorated.
The 1990s and early 2000s introduced LED Christmas lights, which offered greater durability, lower energy costs, and more vibrant colors. LED lights have also made elaborate displays more affordable and manageable, expanding the range of creative possibilities for holiday decorators!
No matter what type of Christmas lights you choose, we love that Christmas lights represent a tradition passed down through hundreds of years!
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