Trystan Casey
The first electric Christmas display was created by Edward Hibberd Johnson, a close friend and business associate of Thomas Edison, in 1882. Johnson decorated a Christmas tree with 80 red, white, and blue light bulbs, which he hand-wired and strung together. The tree was placed by a street-side window in the parlor of his Manhattan home, and it was reported to be the handsomest Christmas tree in the United States by the Detroit Post and Tribune. Johnson's innovative and colourful display not only dazzled New Yorkers but also reduced the risk of Christmas tree fires, as people had previously used wax candles to illuminate their trees.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 1882 |
| Creator | Edward Hibberd Johnson |
| Location | Johnson's home in the Murray Hill neighborhood of New York City |
| Number of bulbs | 80 |
| Colors | Red, white, and blue |
| Power source | Generator |
| Tree height | Six feet |
| Tree stand | Revolving pedestal |
| Media coverage | Detroit Post and Tribune, Electrical World, The New York Times |
| Subsequent tradition | Johnson added more bulbs each year; in 1884, his tree featured 120 bulbs |
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What You'll Learn
Thomas Edison's 1880 display
Thomas Edison, the inventor of the first successful practical lightbulb, created the first strand of electric lights. During the Christmas season of 1880, Edison hung strands of lights outside his Menlo Park Laboratory in New Jersey. This gave passing railroad passengers their first glimpse of an electric light display.
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 path from the train station to Edison's building was illuminated by 290 light bulbs, casting a soft and mellow light. This was the first use of electric Christmas lighting.
However, it would take almost 40 years for electric Christmas lights to become a tradition. Before this, families used candles to light their Christmas trees, which was dangerous and often caused house fires.
In 1882, Edison's friend and partner, Edward H. Johnson, put together the first string of electric lights for a Christmas tree. Johnson hand-wired 80 red, white, and blue light bulbs and wound them around his revolving Christmas tree. The tree stood about six feet high and was described as "the handsomest Christmas tree in the United States." Johnson's creation became a tradition, and he added more bulbs each year.
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Edward H. Johnson's 1882 tree
The first electrically illuminated Christmas tree was created by Edward Hibberd Johnson, a close friend and business associate of Thomas 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 in his home in New York City. The tree was decorated with 80 red, white, and blue electric light bulbs the size of walnuts, hand-wired and strung together along a single power cord. The tree was set on a wooden box that rotated six times a minute, turning the lights on and off and creating a captivating display of alternating colours. Johnson's innovative Christmas tree attracted much attention, with people gathering outside his home to marvel at the novel use of electricity.
Johnson's electrically illuminated Christmas tree was a significant milestone, as it offered a safer alternative to the traditional wax candles used on Christmas trees, which had been around since the mid-17th century. Candles posed a fire hazard, resulting in many house fires. Electric lights, however, were initially very costly and required the expertise of a trained electrician. Over time, as the cost of electric lights became more affordable, their use gradually spread, and they eventually replaced candles as the popular choice for Christmas tree lighting.
Johnson continued to add more bulbs to his tree each year, and his creation became a tradition. In 1884, the New York Times reported that Johnson's Christmas tree featured 120 bulbs, and it was described as "the handsomest Christmas tree in the United States". Johnson's pioneering use of electric Christmas lights earned him the title of "the Father of Electric Christmas Tree Lights".
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Johnson's 1884 upgrade
The history of electric Christmas lights can be traced back to Thomas Edison, who in 1880, hung strands of electric lights outside his laboratory in Menlo Park, New Jersey. Edison is credited with inventing the first successful practical lightbulb.
In 1882, Edison's friend and partner, Edward H. Johnson, put together the first string of electric lights specifically intended for a Christmas tree. Johnson hand-wired 80 red, white, and blue light bulbs and wound them around his Christmas tree. He solicited coverage in the press, with the Detroit Post and Tribune covering the display in his New York City home in 1882.
Johnsons 1884 Upgrade
Two years after his initial display, Johnson upgraded his electric Christmas lights. In 1884, Johnson added more bulbs to his Christmas tree, increasing the number to 120, as reported by The New York Times. The publication described the intricate details of the Johnson family's tree, noting the use of a large dynamo to control the lights. The tree featured a revolving design, with copper bands and corresponding buttons that allowed for different combinations of colours to be displayed. This upgrade further enhanced the popularity of electric Christmas lights, with Johnson making it a tradition to add more bulbs each year.
At the time, electricity was not yet widely available, and light bulbs remained expensive, so the adoption of electric Christmas lights by the general public was gradual. It was primarily limited to those who could afford the costly wiring services of an electrician. However, Johnson's innovation and annual tradition of upgrading his display played a significant role in popularising the concept of electric Christmas lights.
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President Grover Cleveland's White House tree
The first-ever Christmas tree illuminated with electric lights was displayed by Edward H. Johnson, a close friend of Thomas Edison, in 1882. Johnson was also the president of the company Edison formed to provide illumination in New York City. Johnson hand-wired 80 red, white, and blue light bulbs and wound them around his Christmas tree.
In 1891, electricity was installed in the White House. Subsequently, in 1894, during the presidency of Grover Cleveland, the first electric lights were used to decorate the White House Christmas tree. An 1896 newspaper described the Cleveland family's Christmas tree as "a tremendous pine, fully twenty feet tall", adorned with tinsel and twinkling with red, white, and blue electric lights. The tree was decorated with toys and presents and was the centrepiece of the White House holiday decorations.
President Cleveland and his family were known to celebrate Christmas with great fervour, especially for the president's daughters, Ruth, Esther, and Marion. The president insisted on upholding the old-fashioned tradition of hanging stockings on the fireplace mantel, stuffing them with bonbons, figs, and toys. The Clevelands also hosted an annual Christmas Eve party for their children and the children of Cabinet members.
In 2009, the White House Historical Association created a Christmas ornament commemorating President Grover Cleveland's second administration (1893-1897) and the first electric lights on the White House Christmas tree.
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General Electric's pre-assembled kits
The first electric Christmas display was created by Edward H. Johnson, a close friend of Thomas Edison and the president of the company Edison formed to provide illumination in New York City. In 1882, Johnson decorated a Christmas tree with 80 red, white, and blue light bulbs. The tree was placed in the street-side window of his parlor and drew a crowd.
At the time, electric lights were very expensive and required the services of a trained electrician. However, this began to change in 1903 when General Electric introduced pre-assembled kits of Christmas lights to the general public. These kits made electric Christmas lights more affordable and accessible to those who were not wealthy or electrically savvy.
The pre-assembled kits offered by General Electric consisted of stringed lights that could be easily hung on a Christmas tree. The lights were designed to be safe and beautiful, avoiding the dangers associated with traditional candle-lit trees. The company promoted their product with ads depicting a candle-decorated Christmas tree in flames, emphasizing the safety and aesthetics of their electric alternative.
General Electric's entry into the market marked a significant step in the electrification of Christmas displays. By the 1940s, electricity had spread to most rural areas, and the transition from candles to multicolored lights was complete. The company's pre-assembled kits played a crucial role in making electric Christmas lights more widely adopted and accessible, contributing to the festive cheer of homes across the country.
Today, decorating Christmas trees with electric lights is a beloved tradition for many families. The convenience and safety offered by pre-assembled kits have made it easier for people to create dazzling displays and spread holiday cheer. The legacy of General Electric's innovation continues to shine bright during the festive season.
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Frequently asked questions
The first electric Christmas display was created by Edward Hibberd Johnson, a close friend and associate of Thomas Edison.
Edward Hibberd Johnson was a trusted business associate of Thomas Edison and the president of the company Edison formed to provide illumination in New York City.
The first electric Christmas display was created in 1882.
Johnson hand-wired 80 red, white, and blue light bulbs and strung them around a Christmas tree. The tree was placed on a revolving pedestal and was powered by a generator.
