Where did the tradition of putting up Christmas lights start?
The History of Christmas Lights on Houses
- Candles. Outdoor Christmas light displays on houses evolved from decorating the traditional Christmas tree and house with candles during the Christmas season.
- Thomas Edison and Edward Johnson. ...
- Dangerous and Expensive. ...
- NOMA. ...
- Today's Christmas Lights. ...
What is the origin of Christmas lights?
Christmas Lights have their origins in the tradition of leaving a candle in the window, a signal of worship. Then around 1500 Martin Luther is believed to have decorated a Christmas Tree with candles. These were possibly the first form of Xmas Lights.
When did Christmas lights originate?
T he Christmas lights of today can light up trees and window frames with tiny twinkling lights of many colors—or cause frustration with their long and tangle-prone cables. But the first such lights, introduced to the holiday world in 1882 by Edward Johnson, a friend and partner of light-bulb inventor Thomas Edison, were a different story.
What are the origins of Christmas traditions?
The word “CHRISTMAS” comes from the Old English term Cristes maesse, meaning “Christ’s mass.” This was the name for the festival service of worship held on December 25 to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. Gift giving is one of the oldest customs associated with Christmas: it is actually older than the holiday itself.
What do Christmas lights symbolize?
Lights and Candles May the beautiful lights of every holiday season remind us of Him who is the source of all light.” 1 Christmas lights can remind us that Jesus Christ is the Light of the World. They can also remind us to be lights to others and to help others come unto Christ.
Who started Christmas lights on houses?
Edward Johnson's idea was to replace the candles with a string of colored electric lights, which he did with eight bulky, pear-shaped bulbs on a single wire. Several publications covered his lighting of the first tree, which rotated as the red, white and blue lights dazzled spectators.
Who started the tradition of lighting a Christmas tree?
Germany is credited with starting the Christmas tree tradition as we now know it in the 16th century when devout Christians brought decorated trees into their homes.
Are Christmas lights Pagan?
Our fascination with the bright and shiny has been intertwined with our celebration of the holidays for nearly a millennia. Harkening to Anglo-Saxon pagan tradition of unclear origin, first references of lighting the Yule log are rooted in 12th-century Germany.
When did people start putting up Christmas lights outside?
During the 1880 Christmas season, Thomas Edison introduced the first outdoor electric Christmas light display to the world. He displayed the lights outside of his laboratory compound, which sat near a railway where many people could see it each night.
What does the Bible say about Christmas trees?
Deuteronomy 16:21 says: Thou shalt not plant thee a grove of any trees near unto the altar of the LORD thy God, which thou shalt make thee. Although this verse doesn't speak directly to christmas trees, it does make a point to mention trees near the altar of the lord.
Are Christmas trees pagan?
Christmas trees did begin as a pagan tradition as early as the fourth century C.E., according to ABC News. European pagans were largely responsible for dressing their homes with the branches of evergreen fir trees in order to bring color and light into their dull winters.
Why tree is decorated in Christmas?
Using the green leaves of an evergreen tree to decorate homes during wintertime started as a Pagan tradition, designed as a symbol of life amid the dark, cold winter nights. The tradition dates back to the Roman times – with them doing so usually around their New Year celebrations.
Who was the father of Christmas lights?
The Father of Christmas Lights title is bestowed upon Edison’s business associate, Edward Johnson, who electrified the first Christmas tree with lights in 1882. The New York Times and publications around the country reported on the dazzling beauty of Johnson’s rotating, electrically-lit tree. Edward Johnson electrified the first Christmas tree ...
When did Christmas lights merge with decorations?
Soon, lights and decorations began to merge, and in 1935 GE sold candle-shaped lamps. And then, the world went dark.
What was the first street in America to light up for Christmas?
In 1920, Altadena’s Christmas Tree Lane became the first street in America to light up for the holiday season. Celebrities helped popularize the trend. Silent film star Mary Pickford made it her personal mission to decorate the outdoors throughout Southern California for Christmas in the 1920s through 1940s.
What happened in the 1970s?
The 1970s energy crisis pushed the industry further into revolution. Lights were increasingly manufactured outside of the United States, and new technology made them more efficient. Throughout the 1970s to today, the design and technology continues to change. Bubble lights and candle shape are no longer the fad.
When did artificial Christmas trees become popular?
Other styles continuously emerged, from twinkling lights to globe-shaped bulbs. In 1959, the aluminum Christmas tree popularized the concept of permanent and reusable artificial trees, launching the industry into a new era. The 1970s energy crisis pushed the industry further into revolution.
When did bubble lights start?
In 1946 , the National Outfit Manufacturers Association introduced the Bubble light—a liquid-filled capsule that when lighted by an incandescent bulb, causes bubbling, creating a colorful and animated effect. For years, the bubble light was a popular alternative for traditional Christmas lights on the tree.
When did the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree first appear?
Community trees also showed up more frequently outdoors. The famous Rockefeller Center Christmas tree first appeared in New York in 1931 . Within two years, the tree was lit annually as a civic celebration. As Christmas lights evolved, so did their accompaniments.
When were Christmas lights invented?
Early electric Christmas lights were introduced with electrification, beginning in the 1880s. The illuminated Christmas tree became established in the UK during Queen Victoria's reign, and through emigration spread to North America and Australia.
Where were the first Christmas lights used?
San Diego in 1904, Appleton, Wisconsin in 1909, and New York City in 1912 were the first recorded instances of the use of Christmas lights outside. McAdenville, North Carolina claims to have been the first in 1956.
What are fairy lights called?
The small "midget" bulbs commonly known as fairy lights are also called Italian lights in some parts of the U.S., such as Chicago . The types of lamps used in Christmas lighting also vary considerably, reflecting the diversity of modern lighting technology in general.
What is the most common form of Christmas lighting?
Christmas lights (also called twinkle lights, holiday lights, mini lights or fairy lights ), that are strands of electric lights used to decorate homes, public/commercial buildings and Christmas trees during the Christmas season are amongst the most recognized form of Christmas lighting.
What are the two days of Christmas that are removed?
In the Western Christian world, the two traditional days when Christmas lights are removed are Twelfth Night and Candlemas, the latter of which ends the Christmas-Epiphany season in some denominations. Leaving the decorations up beyond Candlemas is historically considered to be inauspicious.
What are Christmas lights?
For the British TV special, see Christmas Lights (film). Christmas lights (also known as fairy lights, festive lights or string lights) are lights often used for decoration in celebration of Christmas, often on display throughout the Christmas season including Advent and Christmastide. The custom goes back to when Christmas trees were decorated ...
What kind of light do you use for a framed sculpture?
Framed motifs can be lit using mini lights or ropelight , and larger scale motifs and sculptures may use C7 bulbs. Light sculptures can be either flat (most common) or three-dimensional. Flat sculptures are the motifs, and are often on metal frames, but garland can also be attached to outdoor motifs.
Overview
Notes
1. ^ Felix, Antonia (1999). Christmas in America. Courage Books. ISBN 9780762405947. Retrieved 27 January 2017. German families brought a small tree into the home at Christmas time as a symbol of the Christ child, and decorated the boughs with cutout paper flowers, bright foil, apples, sweets, and other fancy treats. Another feature of Christmas that took a uniquely American turn in the nineteenth century is the tradition of Christmas lights. Candles were traditionally placed on t…
History
The Christmas tree was adopted in upper-class homes in 18th-century Germany, where it was occasionally decorated with candles, which at the time was a comparatively expensive light source. Candles for the tree were glued with melted wax to a tree branch or attached by pins. Around 1890, candleholders were first used for Christmas candles. Between 1902 and 1914, small lanterns and glass balls to hold the candles started to be used. Early electric Christmas lights we…
Technology
The technology used in Christmas lighting displays is highly diverse, ranging from simple light strands, Christmas lights (a.k.a. Fairy lights), through to full blown animated tableaux, involving complex illuminated animatronics and statues.
Christmas lights (also called twinkle lights, holiday lights, mini lights or fairy lights), that are strands of electric lights used to decorate homes, public/commercial buildings and Christmas trees during …
Outdoor displays
Displays of Christmas lights in public venues and on public buildings are a popular part of the annual celebration of Christmas, and may be set up by businesses or by local governments. The displays utilize Christmas lights in many ways, including decking towering Christmas trees in public squares, street trees and park trees, adorning lampposts and other such structures, decorating significant buildings such as town halls and department stores, and lighting up popul…
Other holidays
In the United States, lights have been produced for many other holidays. These may be simple sets in typical holiday colors, or the type with plastic ornaments which the light socket fits into. Light sculptures are also produced in typical holiday icons.
Halloween is the most popular, with miniature light strings having black-insulated wires and semi-opaque orange bulbs. Later sets had some transparent purple bulbs (a representation of black, si…
Environment, recycling, and safety
Christmas lighting leads to some recycling issues. Annually more than 20 million pounds of discarded holiday lights are shipped to Shijiao, China (near Guangzhou), which has been referred to as "the world capital for recycling Christmas lights". The region began importing discarded lights circa 1990 in part because of its cheap labor and low environmental standards. As late as 2009, many factories burned the lights to melt the plastic and retrieve the copper wire, releasing …
Light sculptures
Christmas light sculptures, also called motifs, are used as Christmas decorations and for other holidays. Originally, these were large wireframe metalwork pieces made for public displays, such as for a municipal government to place on utility poles, and shopping centers to place on lampposts. Since the 1990s, these are also made in small plastic home versions that can be hung in a window, or on a door or wall. Framed motifs can be lit using mini lights or ropelight, and larger scale motif…