History of Christmas Lights
December 9, 2025
“Holiday light bulbs since 1882.”
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Christmas tree lights may feel like a modern touch, but the tradition actually dates back to the late nineteenth century. In 1882, Edward Johnson — a friend and colleague of Thomas Edison — introduced the first electric holiday lights. Before that, families briefly illuminated their trees with candles, enjoying the glow for only moments before extinguishing them for safety. Johnson’s idea to use Edison’s newly invented bulbs was innovative, but it didn’t truly catch on until the 1920s, when preassembled light strings became widely available. From there, Christmas tree lights quickly moved from novelty to an essential part of holiday décor around the world.
