Molly Ayala
Christmas lights are a well-loved tradition, but the history of electric Christmas tree lights is a little more complex. The story begins with Thomas Edison, who in 1880 hung strands of electric lights outside his laboratory in Menlo Park, New Jersey. However, it was not until 1882 that Edison's friend and partner, Edward H. Johnson, put together the first string of electric lights specifically for a Christmas tree. Johnson hand-wired 80 red, white, and blue light bulbs and wound them around his Christmas tree, creating a dazzling and colourful display.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year electric Christmas tree lights were invented | 1882 |
| Inventor | Edward Hibberd Johnson, an associate of Thomas Edison |
| Number of bulbs | 80 |
| Colors | Red, white, and blue |
| Power source | A generator |
| Tree features | Revolving pedestal |
| Cost of electric lights at the time | $300 (approximately $2,000 in today's dollars) |
| Year electric Christmas lights became affordable | 1903 |
| Company that offered pre-assembled kits | General Electric |
| Year Christmas lights became a tradition | 1923 |
| President who lit the National Christmas Tree | Calvin Coolidge |
| Number of lights on the National Christmas Tree | 3,000 |
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What You'll Learn
Thomas Edison's 1880 display
During the Christmas season of 1880, Thomas Edison hung strings of electric lights outside his laboratory in Menlo Park, New Jersey. This was the first use of electric Christmas lighting. Edison had invented the incandescent bulb the previous year.
An article in the New York Times on December 21, 1880, described a visit by officials from the New York City government to Edison's laboratory. The walk from the train station to Edison's building was illuminated with 290 light bulbs, casting a soft and mellow light. Railroad passengers travelling by the laboratory also witnessed the display.
However, Edison did not initially intend the lights to be associated with Christmas. He was hosting a holiday dinner for a delegation from New York, and the lighting seemed to fit the festive mood. At this time, it was common to decorate Christmas trees with small candles, which could be dangerous.
It was one of Edison's employees, Edward H. Johnson, who first combined Christmas trees and electric lights. In 1882, Johnson, a close friend of Edison and president of the company Edison formed to provide illumination in New York City, displayed an electrically lit Christmas tree to reporters who visited his Manhattan house. Johnson hand-wired 80 red, white, and blue light bulbs, which he strung together around a tree in the street-side window of his parlour. The lights were powered by a generator, and the tree was made to revolve with a steady, regular motion.
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Edward H. Johnson's 1882 tree
The world's first electrically illuminated Christmas tree was created by Edward H. Johnson, a vice president of the Edison Electric Light Company and a business associate of Thomas Edison. Johnson's tree was displayed in December 1882 at his home in the Murray Hill neighbourhood of New York City. The tree was decorated with 80 red, white, and blue electric light bulbs, about the size of walnuts, strung together along a single power cord. The tree was set on a wooden box that rotated six times a minute, alternating the lights on and off, creating a dazzling display.
Johnson's innovation not only added a new level of flash and colour to Christmas trees but also significantly reduced the risk of fire hazards associated with traditional wax candles. Before the advent of electric Christmas lights, families would use candles to illuminate their trees, often resulting in dangerous situations and house fires. Johnson's idea to use electric lights as a safer alternative was a revolutionary concept.
The inspiration for Johnson's electric-tree idea came from traditional candle-lit trees. He wanted to replace the hazardous form of decoration with the newer and safer electric lights. In 1880, Thomas Edison demonstrated the first practical lightbulb, and Johnson, being a close associate, was well-versed in the emerging electrical technology. Johnson's electrically lit tree was powered by an electric current drawn from Edison's main office, showcasing the potential of electricity in a festive and captivating way.
Johnson's creation sparked a new tradition of using electric lights for Christmas trees. In 1883, he decorated a 45-foot-high revolving Christmas tree with 225 electric light bulbs at the Foreign Exhibition in Boston. The following year, he used a dynamo in the cellar of his home to power 120 lights on his Christmas tree, which revolved and displayed different combinations of coloured lights using a patented mechanism. Johnson's innovative use of electric lights for Christmas trees earned him the title of the "Father of Electric Christmas Tree Lights".
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Electric Christmas lights become a tradition
The use of electric Christmas lights began with Thomas Edison, who in 1880 hung strings of electric lights outside his laboratory in Menlo Park, New Jersey. However, it was not until 1882 that Edison's friend and partner, Edward H. Johnson, created the first string of electric lights specifically for a Christmas tree. Johnson hand-wired 80 red, white, and blue light bulbs and wound them around his Christmas tree. The tree also featured a revolving pedestal, which was powered by a generator along with the lights. Johnson added more bulbs to his tree every year, with 120 bulbs featured in 1884.
At this time, electricity was not widely available, and light bulbs were very expensive, so electric Christmas lights did not become popular right away. In fact, it took almost 40 years for electric Christmas lights to become a tradition. Initially, electric Christmas lights were reserved for the wealthy, as the wiring of electric lights was costly and required the services of an electrician. However, in 1903, General Electric began to offer pre-assembled kits of Christmas lights, making them more accessible to the general public.
In 1895, President Grover Cleveland decorated the White House Christmas tree with multicolored electric lights, which helped to spur the acceptance of indoor electric Christmas lights. By the early 20th century, publicly displayed Christmas trees illuminated with electric lights had become popular. Over time, it became customary not only to decorate Christmas trees with electric lights but also to display strings of lights along streets and on buildings.
The use of electric Christmas lights offered a safer alternative to the traditional candles that had been used to illuminate Christmas trees for centuries. Candles posed a significant fire hazard, and newspapers often printed tragic stories of Christmas trees accidentally catching fire and causing house fires, sometimes with deadly consequences. By replacing candles with electric lights, Johnson not only added colour and flash to Christmas trees but also greatly reduced the risk of fires.
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President Grover Cleveland's 1895 tree
The history of electric Christmas tree lights can be traced back to the 1880s. In 1882, Edward H. Johnson, a close friend of Thomas Edison and the president of the company Edison formed to provide illumination in New York City, decorated a Christmas tree with electric lights. Johnson hand-wired 80 red, white, and blue light bulbs and strung them together around a tree in front of the street-side window of his parlor. The tree was about six feet tall, and the lights were powered by a generator, along with the tree's revolving pedestal.
In 1895, President Grover Cleveland placed multi-coloured electric lights on the White House tree. This was the first time electric lights were used on a Christmas tree in the White House, replacing candles. The tree was decorated with gold angels, gold and silver sleds, lots of tinsel, and dolls, a dollhouse, and a miniature White House under it. The Clevelands' Christmas was a family-oriented affair, with an annual Christmas Eve party for their children and the children of Cabinet members.
The use of electric lights on Christmas trees became popular after people learned of their use in the White House. However, electric lights were initially very costly and required the services of a trained electrician. It was only in 1903 that General Electric began offering affordable pre-assembled kits of Christmas lights, making them more accessible to the general public.
The tradition of decorating Christmas trees with lights dates back to the use of candles by Christians in early modern Germany. These candles symbolised Jesus as the Light of the World. With the advent of electrification in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, candles were gradually replaced by electric lights, which offered a safer and more festive alternative.
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Albert Sadacca's 1917 business idea
The history of electric Christmas tree lights can be traced back to Thomas Edison, the inventor of the first successful lightbulb. During the Christmas season of 1880, Edison hung strands of electric lights outside his laboratory in Menlo Park, New Jersey. However, it was Edward H. Johnson, Edison's friend and partner, who first used electric lights on a Christmas tree in 1882. Johnson hand-wired 80 red, white, and blue light bulbs and strung them around his Christmas tree. The tree was even more impressive as it revolved, thanks to Edison dynamos.
Despite these early innovations, electric Christmas lights were initially very expensive and required the services of an electrician. As a result, their use was limited to the wealthy and electrically savvy. However, in 1917, Albert Sadacca, a teenager whose family owned a novelty lighting company, saw the potential in selling electric Christmas lights to the public. Sadacca suggested that the company sell brightly coloured strands of lights, recognising the appeal they would have for festive celebrations.
Sadacca's idea was a significant development in the history of electric Christmas lights. By targeting the public market, he aimed to make these lights more accessible and affordable. This shift in focus had the potential to increase demand and drive down prices, making electric lights more widely available. It demonstrated a forward-thinking approach, recognising that the public would embrace new lighting technology as a safer and more festive alternative to traditional candles.
Sadacca's business idea built on the foundations laid by Edison and Johnson. By the early 20th century, Christmas trees illuminated with electric lights had become popular, and by the mid-20th century, it became customary to display strings of electric lights along streets and on buildings. Sadacca's initiative to sell these lights to the public aligned with the growing trend of adopting electric lighting for Christmas celebrations. His idea to offer colourful strands of lights also tapped into the desire for a vibrant and festive atmosphere, enhancing the visual appeal of Christmas trees and decorations.
The impact of Sadacca's business idea extended beyond the novelty lighting company he and his brothers established. By organising the National Outfit Manufacturers Association Electric Company, they dominated the Christmas light market until the 1960s. This period of success highlights the influence his initial idea had on shaping the industry and popularising electric Christmas lights. Sadacca's vision contributed to a lasting legacy, as electric lights became a beloved tradition, bringing joy and sparkle to festive celebrations worldwide.
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Frequently asked questions
Edward Hibberd Johnson, a friend and business partner of Thomas Edison, introduced the first electric Christmas tree lights in 1882. Johnson hand-wired 80 red, white, and blue light bulbs and wound them around his Christmas tree.
Before the invention of electric Christmas tree lights, people used candles to light up their Christmas trees. This practice was often dangerous and led to many house fires.
Electric Christmas tree lights became popular in the early 20th century. In 1903, General Electric began offering pre-assembled kits of Christmas lights, making them more accessible to the general public. By the mid-20th century, it became customary to display strings of electric lights along streets and on buildings, and later, private homes.
