Christmas Lights ~ Dec 22nd

Who invented the first Christmas lights?

Thomas Edison and Edward Johnson (1880 & 1882) and Albert Sadacca (1917) (on December 22, 1882)

Christmas lights have been one of the most popular Christmas decorations for the past century. In 1882, three years after Edison invented the first sensible light bulb, Edward Johnson created the first Christmas lights in his home in New York City. The tree was hand-wired and lit with 80 red, white, and blue globes. The lights blinked and twinkled while the tree slowly revolved.

1882 - First Christmas Tree with electric lights, in the parlor of the home of Edward H. Johnson in New York City – December 22, 1882.

Christmas lights were first made available for sale in 1890, but they were so expensive that most people could not afford them. They were a symbol of status among the wealthy and many of them rented the lights instead of buying them. In 1903, one set of 24 Christmas lights was sold for $12.00. Considering the average person made about $9 a week, this was far too extravagant for the normal family. In addition to the cost of the lights, the services of a wireman were required and, if the house was not electrically powered, they also needed a generator.

1903-1904 picture is of the first box of Christmas lights sold to the public


Christmas lights did not become practical for the average family until the 1930s. By this time, not only homes were decorated with electric lights. Stores, community Christmas trees and government buildings were adorned with the twinkling lamps. General Electric began to sponsor community lighting competitions in the 1920s, but it wasn’t until the 1950s that it was common to see rows of houses lit on the outside. Now, the places you find the lights are as numerous as the types of lights available.

Christmas lights have come a LONG way since 1882. Take for example the Great Tree in New York City at Rockefeller Center.

The tradition began during the Depression era construction of Rockefeller Center, when workers decorated a small Balsam Fir tree with "strings of cranberries, garlands of paper, and even a few tin cans."


Today the tree, usually a Norway Spruce 75 to 90 feet tall, has been put up every year since 1931. This year, the tree was lighted on December 3 and will remain illuminated until January 9, 2009.


The tree is supported by four guy wires attached at its midpoint, and by a steel spike at its base. Scaffolding is put up around the tree to assist workers in putting up 30,000 lights attached to 5 miles of wiring. The star that has topped the tree since 2004 is 9.5 feet in diameter and weighs 550 pounds. This "Swarovski Star" was created by the German artist Michael Hammers.


The decorated tree remains lighted at Rockefeller Center until the week after New Years Day when it is removed and recycled for a variety of uses. In 2007, the tree went "green," employing LED lights. After being taken down, the tree was used to furnish lumber for Habitat for Humanity house construction.

So next time you decorate that tree thank Mr. Edison, Johnson and Sadacca. Then sit back with a glass of mulled cider or eggnog and invite the family in for the unveiling: "HEY! HEEEEEYYYYYY! THE CHRITHMATTHHH TREE IS REAAAAAADY! COME SEEEEEEEEE!!!!