At Humbug Holiday Lighting, We Love Christmas Lights!

At Humbug Holiday Lighting, WE LOVE LIGHTS and we know that you do too! It got us thinking…what was the origin of Christmas lights and holiday lights? So, with the help of Google, Chat GPT, and a few links, we found some interesting information to share with all of our Central Florida friends.

The History of Christmas Lights: From Candles to Electricity

If you go way, way, way back, the use of candles during winter actually predates Christmas! However, during the 17th century, Germany led the way by placing candles in Christmas trees, which is one of the first instances of illuminated holiday decorations. Fast forward to 1882 during the transition to electricity, when Edward H. Johnson, an associate of Thomas Edison, created the first electrically lit Christmas tree. He hand-wired 80 red, white, and blue bulbs and lit it up in New York City, capturing the public’s imagination with Christmas lights.

Christmas Lights Become Mainstream

In 1903, the Edison Electric Company started selling pre-wired sets of Christmas lights, making them more accessible to the average household. In addition, a bunch of new public holiday light displays began to show up across the country. As you can imagine, Christmas lights started to appear in parks, streets, shops, and other places, drawing crowds to take in the festive atmospheres and celebrations.

Christmas Lights After World War II

Following World War II, mass production made Christmas lights much more affordable. There were many colors, varieties, and options easily available to the average household. It became common for Christmas lights to adorn homes, trees, and neighborhoods, lighting up the holiday season! The invention of mini lights in the 1970s allowed for more intricate, colorful, and elaborate lighting displays, as these smaller bulbs used less energy and could be strung together in longer lengths.

The Era of LED Christmas Lights

Today, LED Christmas lights are the standard for many homes. This technology, which gained traction in the 1990s, changed the game with lights that are more energy-efficient, longer-lasting, and available in a wider range of colors and styles. Christmas lights continue to grow in popularity, but luckily, companies like Humbug Holiday Lighting of Central Florida make it easy for you to achieve a professional, bright, and festive look without all the hassle!

The Joy and Tradition of Christmas Lights

Christmas lights have become a huge part of the holiday season, representing joy, celebration, and community. This look back at the history of Christmas lights shows how technological advancements and cultural practices have made them a cherished part of holiday traditions worldwide.

Let Humbug Holiday Lighting Make Your Christmas Bright!

Now, when you’re driving through Orlando, Windermere, Winter Garden, Ocoee, and the amazing neighborhoods of Central Florida, you can impress your family and friends with this great new knowledge about Christmas lights! Speaking of impressing people, if you don’t have a plan for your Christmas lights, Humbug Holiday Lighting of Central Florida would love to help make your home incredible this season.