The Magical History of Christmas Lights 

The tradition of decorating with lights goes back to the 1600s in Germany, where families would use real candles to illuminate their Christmas trees. These candles symbolized hope and warmth during the cold winter nights, adding a magical glow to the holiday season. While charming, this method had its dangers, as live candles could easily start fires. Despite the risks, these candle-lit trees became a beloved holiday custom that spread across Europe. 

Question for Kids: Can you imagine what it would be like to decorate a tree with real candles? How do you think families kept them from burning too long? 

In 1880, famed inventor Thomas Edison introduced the world to electric Christmas lights. Edison strung up electric light bulbs outside his laboratory, creating a dazzling holiday display that captured the public’s imagination. Shortly after, one of Edison’s close associates, Edward H. Johnson, took it a step further by decorating a Christmas tree with red, white, and blue electric bulbs, which he placed on a motorized stand to spin and display the lights. This display marked the world’s first electric Christmas tree and sparked a trend that quickly spread. 

With electric lights, families could safely decorate their homes without the risk of open flames. Over time, colorful electric Christmas lights became more accessible and began appearing in households all over the world, lighting up the holidays with a new kind of magic. 

As electricity became common in homes, decorating for Christmas with lights turned into a beloved tradition. By the early 1900s, holiday light displays were popping up in department store windows, public parks, and town squares across the United States. People flocked to see these mesmerizing displays. Communities came together and celebrated the symbols of joy, hope, and celebration. 

Today, we see incredible Christmas light shows around the world, with dazzling displays that dance to holiday music and create an immersive holiday experience. Some of the best Christmas light displays use advanced technology to create synchronized shows that tell stories, share holiday themes, and entertain visitors of all ages.