Umair Gaines
Christmas lights are a popular part of the annual celebration of Christmas, with displays put up by businesses, local governments, and households. The tradition of using electric Christmas lights began in the late 19th century when Thomas Edison, the inventor of the first successful lightbulb, created the first strand of electric lights. During Christmas in 1880, Edison strung lights outside his Menlo Park Laboratory, giving railroad passengers their first glimpse of an electric light display. In 1882, Edward H. Johnson, Edison's friend and vice president of the Edison Electric Light Co., decorated a tree in his New York City home with 80 hand-wired red, white, and blue light bulbs, earning him the title of Father of the Electric Christmas Tree. However, it wasn't until the early to mid-20th century that electric Christmas lights became more widely adopted, with companies like General Electric offering pre-assembled kits that made them more accessible to the average household.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of first electric Christmas lights | 1882 |
| Creator of first electric Christmas lights | Edward H. Johnson |
| Number of bulbs | 80 |
| Colours of bulbs | Red, white, and blue |
| Date of first commercially available Christmas lights | 1903 |
| Creator of first commercially available Christmas lights | General Electric |
| Date of first outdoor public electric light Christmas display | 1920 |
| Location of first outdoor public electric light Christmas display | Altadena, California |
| Date of first LED Christmas lights | 1998 |
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What You'll Learn
Electric Christmas lights were first used in 1882
Christmas lights are strands of electric lights used to decorate homes, public spaces, commercial buildings, and Christmas trees during the festive season. They come in a dazzling array of configurations and colours, with common lamp types including incandescent light bulbs and light-emitting diodes (LEDs).
At the time, electricity was not widely available, and light bulbs were very expensive. As a result, electric Christmas lights did not gain immediate popularity, and it took almost 40 years for them to become a tradition. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, electric Christmas lights were primarily used by the wealthy and electrically savvy. In 1895, US President Grover Cleveland sponsored the first electrically lit Christmas tree in the White House, featuring over a hundred multicoloured lights. This spurred the acceptance of indoor electric Christmas lights, but it wasn't until 1903 that General Electric began offering pre-assembled kits of Christmas lights, making them more accessible to the general public.
The first miniature Christmas lights were manufactured in Italy, and by the early 20th century, businesses started stringing up Christmas lights in their windows. However, electric Christmas lights did not become the majority replacement for candles until the 1930s. The first recorded uses of Christmas lights on outdoor trees occurred in the US in the early 20th century, and by the mid-20th century, it became customary to display strings of electric lights along streets and on buildings.
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They were popularised by Thomas Edison
The history of electric Christmas lights can be traced back to the late 19th century when incandescent lighting was still a relatively new invention. The concept of illuminating homes with electric lights during the festive season began to emerge in the 1880s, not long after Thomas Edison invented the first practical incandescent light bulb in 1879. While Edison is often credited with inventing electric Christmas lights, he didn't actually create the first string of lights specifically for Christmas. However, his pioneering work in electricity and lighting played a crucial role in their development and popularization.
Edison's incandescent light bulbs quickly gained traction, and by the early 1880s, they were being used in homes and businesses across the United States. As the popularity of electric lighting grew, people began to experiment with decorative lighting for special occasions, including Christmas. One of the earliest known instances of electric Christmas lights being used was at the White House in 1882, during President Grover Cleveland's administration. A Christmas tree was decorated with incandescent lights, marking a significant step towards the widespread adoption of electric Christmas lighting.
Thomas Edison's influence on the popularization of electric Christmas lights was significant. As a prominent inventor and businessman, he understood the potential of his invention and actively promoted its use in a variety of applications, including holiday lighting. Edison's company, the Edison Illuminating Company, played a key role in this process. They encouraged the use of electric lights for Christmas decorations and even published articles and advertisements promoting the idea.
In 1880, just a year after Edison's groundbreaking invention, an employee of his company, Edward H. Johnson, created the first known electrically illuminated Christmas tree. Johnson, a close associate of Edison, strung together 80 red, white, and blue hand-wired bulbs and placed them on a rotating Christmas tree in his home in New York City. This display attracted significant attention and is considered a pivotal moment in the history of electric Christmas lights. Johnson's innovative use of Edison's light bulbs helped to showcase the potential for this new technology in a festive and decorative context.
The association with Thomas Edison and his groundbreaking inventions added a sense of prestige and wonder to electric Christmas lights. As the technology advanced and became more accessible, people began to embrace the idea of using electricity to illuminate their Christmas trees and homes. The convenience, brightness, and novelty of electric lights quickly made them a popular alternative to traditional candles, which could be a fire hazard. Edison's reputation and influence helped to accelerate the acceptance and adoption of this new holiday tradition.
In the years that followed, the production of electric Christmas lights became more streamlined and affordable. By the early 20th century, they had become a common feature in homes across America, and their popularity continued to grow internationally. Today, electric Christmas lights are an integral part of holiday celebrations worldwide, and their history can be traced back to the pioneering work of Thomas Edison and those who embraced and promoted his invention.
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Edward H. Johnson, the 'Father of Electric Christmas Lights'
Edward Hibberd Johnson, born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, on January 4, 1846, is known as the "Father of Electric Christmas Tree Lights". Johnson worked as a telegraph operator and was involved in many of Edison's projects as his business associate. He was also a partner in an early organization that later evolved into General Electric.
In December 1882, while Johnson was Vice-President of the Edison Electric Light Company, he created the first known electrically illuminated Christmas tree at his home in New York City. Johnson had Christmas tree bulbs specially made and displayed his tree, hand-wired with 80 red, white, and blue electric light bulbs the size of walnuts. The tree was set on a wooden box that rotated six times a minute and alternated turning the lights on and off. The display drew a crowd, and Johnson turned his creation into a tradition, adding more bulbs to the tree each year.
In December 1883, Johnson decorated a 45-foot-high revolving Christmas tree with 225 red, white, and blue electric light bulbs at the Foreign Exhibition in Boston. The following year, he featured 120 lights on his Christmas tree, according to The New York Times. Johnson's electrically lit Christmas tree gained wider recognition when, in 1895, US President Grover Cleveland sponsored the first electrically lit Christmas tree in the White House. It featured over a hundred multicolored lights. By 1900, businesses started stringing up Christmas lights in their windows, although electric Christmas lights did not become the majority replacement for candles until 1930.
Johnson's pioneering use of electric Christmas lights inspired the tradition of decorating trees and public spaces with lights during the festive season, a practice that continues to this day.
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President Grover Cleveland spurred their acceptance
In the late 19th century, electric lighting was still a novelty, with most people relying on gaslight or candles for illumination. However, this began to change when President Grover Cleveland spurred the acceptance and popularity of electric Christmas lights. On Christmas Eve in 1894, President Cleveland decorated the first electrically lit Christmas tree in the White House. This event marked a significant turning point in the public's perception of electric lighting.
President Cleveland's adoption of electric Christmas lights sent a powerful message about the safety and aesthetics of this new technology. Up until that point, there had been concerns about the potential fire hazards associated with electricity. By endorsing electric lights for such a prominent and beloved tradition, President Cleveland reassured the public that this new technology was safe and worthy of adoption.
The impact of this endorsement was significant. It sparked a growing interest in electric lighting across the country, with many Americans eager to emulate the president's innovative decoration choice. Electric lighting companies seized the opportunity to promote their products, highlighting the convenience, safety, and beauty of electric lights over traditional candles.
The president's actions also had a lasting impact on how Christmas was celebrated. They set a new standard for Christmas decorations, inspiring Americans to incorporate electric lights into their own holiday traditions. This trend gradually spread beyond the White House, with businesses and communities embracing electric Christmas lights as a way to enhance their holiday celebrations.
Over time, electric lighting technology advanced, becoming more accessible and affordable. President Cleveland's initial impetus led to a thriving industry centered around holiday lighting. Manufacturers began producing specialized Christmas lighting fixtures, and the variety and availability of electric lights expanded significantly.
Today, electric Christmas lights are an integral part of holiday celebrations worldwide, and their widespread acceptance can be traced back to President Grover Cleveland's pivotal role in embracing and promoting this new technology. His legacy shines bright in the twinkling lights that have become synonymous with the magic and wonder of Christmas.
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Albert Sadacca made them more affordable
The history of electric Christmas lights dates back to the late 19th century, with Thomas Edison credited as the inventor of the first successful lightbulb in 1880. However, it was Albert Sadacca who played a pivotal role in making electric Christmas lights accessible and affordable to the masses.
Albert Sadacca, a teenager from New York City, had a pivotal role in the history of Christmas lights. In 1917, he suggested that his family's novelty lighting company offer brightly coloured strands of electric Christmas lights to the public. Sadacca recognised the potential for selling electric lights as a festive novelty, a foresight that would change how people celebrate Christmas. Until then, Christmas trees were often lit with candles, a practice that was not only dangerous but also limited in its visual impact.
The Sadacca family's company, NOMA (National Outfit Manufacturers Association Electric Company), soon became a dominant force in the Christmas light market. NOMA offered a cheaper alternative to the expensive electric lights that had previously been available. Before companies like NOMA and General Electric began offering affordable kits, electric Christmas lights were too costly for most people, often reserved only for the wealthy. The wiring of electric lights before the 1900s could cost around $300, a significant sum that made it inaccessible to average households.
Albert Sadacca's innovation and entrepreneurship made a marked difference. By repurposing existing white novelty lights into coloured bulbs, he created a more affordable and accessible option for families. NOMA's lights were a game-changer, and the company quickly rose to become the largest Christmas lighting manufacturer globally, maintaining that position for around 40 years.
The widespread adoption of electric Christmas lights took time, but by the mid-20th century, it became customary to display strings of electric lights not just on trees but also along streets and on buildings. This trend spread beyond the United States, Canada, and Europe, reaching countries like Japan and Hong Kong by the late 20th century. Today, electric Christmas lights are an integral part of holiday celebrations worldwide, with people competing to create ever more spectacular displays.
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Frequently asked questions
Thomas Edison and Edward H. Johnson created the first electric strands of lights in 1880/1882. However, it was Albert Sadacca who saw a future in selling electric Christmas lights.
Electric Christmas trees became popular in the early 20th century. By the mid-20th century, it became customary to display strings of electric lights along streets and on buildings.
In 1895, US President Grover Cleveland sponsored the first electrically lit Christmas tree in the White House. It featured over a hundred multicolored lights.
In 1903, General Electric began to offer pre-assembled kits of Christmas lights, making their use more affordable.
