Molly Ayala
The history of electric Christmas tree lights can be traced back to the 1880s, when Thomas Edison, the inventor of the first successful lightbulb, hung the first strand of electric Christmas lights outside his laboratory in New Jersey. However, it was Edward Hibberd Johnson, Edison's friend and colleague, who introduced electric lights to Christmas trees in 1882. Johnson hand-wired 80 red, white, and blue light bulbs, strung them together, and powered them using a generator. This innovative and safer alternative to traditional candle-lit trees captivated spectators and soon became an annual tradition, with Johnson adding more bulbs each year. Despite the initial high cost and limited access to electricity, electric Christmas tree lights gradually gained popularity, and by the 1920s, companies like General Electric made them more accessible and affordable, transforming how people decorate their trees during the holidays.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 1882 |
| Inventor | Edward Hibberd Johnson |
| Inspiration | Traditional candle-lit trees |
| Number of bulbs | 80 |
| Bulb colours | Red, white, and blue |
| Power source | A generator |
| Cost of bulbs | $12 for a string of 16 bulbs in 1900 |
| Cost of electrician | $300 in 1903 |
| First mass-produced lights | General Electric, 1903 |
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What You'll Learn
Thomas Edison's electric light bulbs
Thomas Edison is often credited with creating the first electric light bulbs. However, it is important to note that he did not invent the light bulb itself, but rather improved upon existing designs to create a long-lasting and practical incandescent lamp.
Born in 1847, Edison was an American inventor and businessman who developed devices across various fields, including electric power generation, mass communication, sound recording, and motion pictures. He established the first industrial research laboratory and is known for his ability to apply organised science and teamwork to the invention process.
In 1878, Edison began working on a system of electrical illumination, aiming to compete with gas and oil-based lighting. He focused on creating a long-lasting incandescent lamp suitable for indoor use. After testing thousands of materials, he discovered that a filament made from carbonised bamboo worked best. On November 4, 1879, he filed for a US patent for an electric lamp using a carbon filament and, on December 31, 1879, he made the first public demonstration of his incandescent light bulb.
Edison's improvements to the light bulb finally made it feasible for people to light their homes with electricity. His work with light bulbs was a significant contribution to the timeline of invention, and he is credited with over a thousand patents during his career, including the electric lamp.
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Edward Johnson's 1882 Christmas tree
The first electrically illuminated Christmas tree was created by Edward Hibberd Johnson, an inventor and business associate of Thomas Alva Edison. Johnson was the Vice President of the Edison Electric Light Company, a predecessor of General Electric. In December 1882, Johnson displayed an electrically illuminated Christmas tree at his home in New York City. The tree was decorated with 80 red, white, and blue electric light bulbs, which were hand-wired and the size of walnuts. The tree was set on a revolving wooden box, which turned the lights on and off as it rotated. Johnson's innovative Christmas tree attracted attention, with people gathering outside his home to admire the new use of electricity.
Johnson's creation of electric Christmas tree lights addressed a safety concern with the traditional use of candles on Christmas trees, which posed a fire hazard. By replacing candles with electric lights, Johnson not only reduced the risk of fires but also introduced a new level of flash and colour to Christmas tree decorations. This idea built upon Thomas Edison's earlier creation of the first successful practical light bulb in 1879 and his display of the first strand of electric lights outside his laboratory in 1880.
In the following years, Johnson continued to showcase his electrically illuminated Christmas trees, adding more bulbs each year. In 1883, he displayed a 45-foot-high revolving Christmas tree with 225 electric light bulbs at the Foreign Exhibition in Boston. Johnson's trees inspired others to adopt electric Christmas lights, although the high cost of electricity and bulbs initially limited their widespread use.
Johnson's pioneering use of electric lights on Christmas trees earned him the title of "The Father of Electric Christmas Tree Lights". His innovation not only enhanced the visual appeal of Christmas celebrations but also contributed to the safety and well-being of many by reducing the fire risks associated with traditional candlelit trees.
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The White House Christmas tree
The tradition of the White House Christmas tree, also known as the Blue Room Christmas Tree, began in the 19th century. There are varying claims as to the exact year, with some sources stating that the first indoor Christmas tree at the White House was in 1853 or 1856 during the presidency of Franklin Pierce. However, more credible sources indicate that the first Christmas tree was placed in the Second Floor Oval Room (now known as the Yellow Oval Room) in 1889 or 1891 during the Benjamin Harrison administration. The tree was decorated with candles for the Harrison grandchildren.
In 1912, the Taft children, Robert, Helen, and Charles, placed the first tree in the Blue Room on the State Floor, establishing a tradition that has been sporadically continued by successive first families. The Blue Room Christmas tree has been decorated with various themes over the years, with First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy introducing the tradition of selecting a theme in 1961, opting for a "Nutcracker Suite" ballet motif.
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Electric lights become affordable
The history of electric Christmas lights began in the 1880s, when Thomas Edison, the inventor of the first successful practical lightbulb, hung the first strand of electric Christmas lights outside his Menlo Park laboratory in New Jersey. However, it was Edison's friend and business associate, Edward Hibberd Johnson, who first wrapped electric lights around a Christmas tree in 1882. Johnson hand-wired 80 red, white, and blue light bulbs and strung them together around a tree in his parlor. The tree was powered by a generator, and the lights dazzled spectators as the tree revolved.
At this time, electricity was not widely available, and light bulbs were very expensive, so electric Christmas lights were reserved for the wealthy. In 1900, a string of 16 bulbs cost $12, which would be approximately $350 today. In addition to the cost of the bulbs, one had to hire an electrician for installation, which could cost around $300 (or $2,000 in today's dollars). As a result, electric Christmas lights were not common, and most people continued to use candles to decorate their Christmas trees.
In 1903, General Electric began to offer affordable pre-assembled kits of Christmas lights, and by the 1920s, their lights had become more accessible and cheaper. In 1923, President Calvin Coolidge lit the National Christmas Tree with 3,000 electric lights, and by the 1930s, most Americans could afford to string electric lights on their Christmas trees.
The introduction of electric Christmas lights provided a safer alternative to candles, which posed a dangerous fire hazard. While electric lights were initially costly and inaccessible to most, they eventually became affordable and widely adopted, transforming the way people decorate their trees during the holiday season.
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Safety concerns with candles
The tradition of decorating pine trees with candles during Christmas dates back to the 1800s. While the candles created a beautiful flickering effect, they also posed a significant fire hazard, with newspapers annually reporting tragic stories of Christmas trees catching fire and burning down houses.
In 1882, Edward Hibberd Johnson, a friend and business associate of Thomas Edison, introduced the world's first strand of electric Christmas lights, replacing the dangerous candles with a safer and more festive lighting alternative. Johnson hand-wired 80 red, white, and blue light bulbs, powering them with a generator, and displayed this new creation outside his parlor window, attracting a crowd with his dazzling tree.
Despite the innovation, it would take several decades for electric Christmas lights to become common, due to the high cost of light bulbs and the limited availability of electricity. During this period, the use of candles on Christmas trees continued, with all the associated safety concerns.
- Never leave a burning candle unattended.
- Never burn a candle near anything flammable or combustible.
- Keep candles out of the reach of children and pets.
- Always trim the wick to 1/4 inch before lighting.
- Use a proper candleholder that is heat-resistant, sturdy, and large enough to contain any wax drips.
- Place candles at least three inches apart to prevent melting and drafts affecting the flame.
- Discontinue burning a candle when 1/2 inch of wax remains in the container to prevent overheating.
- Extinguish a candle if the flame flickers repeatedly or becomes too high.
- Never use water to extinguish a candle as it can cause hot wax to splatter.
- Do not burn candles all the way down.
- Never use a candle as a night light or when you may fall asleep.
- Be cautious when using candles during a power outage.
- Avoid using candles with lead wicks, as they may release harmful toxins.
- Use candles made from natural materials such as beeswax or soy wax to reduce exposure to pollutants.
- Ensure proper ventilation when burning candles to minimise the risk of indoor air pollution.
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Frequently asked questions
Thomas Edison and his friend and employee Edward Hibberd Johnson are credited with creating the first strand of electric Christmas lights in the early 1880s.
The use of candles to illuminate Christmas trees dates back to the 1800s. However, candles posed a significant fire hazard, and newspapers often reported tragic stories of Christmas trees catching fire and causing accidents. Johnson aimed to replace candles with electric lights, making the tradition safer while adding colour and dazzle to the celebrations.
Johnson hand-wired 80 red, white, and blue light bulbs and strung them on a revolving Christmas tree in 1882. The tree stood about six feet high and was decorated with tinsel and other adornments. The lights were powered by a generator, and Johnson added more bulbs each year, featuring 120 bulbs in 1884.
Electric tree lights were initially expensive and required the services of a trained electrician, making them unaffordable for most people. However, in the 1920s, companies like General Electric started producing and selling pre-assembled electric Christmas lights, making them more accessible and affordable. By the 1930s, most Americans could afford to string electric lights on their Christmas trees.
It is believed that Edison did not initially intend for his electric lights to be associated with Christmas. However, during a holiday dinner in 1882, he showcased the lights, and they seemed to fit the festive mood. Johnson, inspired by Edison's lights, specifically created electric lights to decorate his Christmas tree, popularising the tradition.
