The History of Christmas Lights!

Christmas lights are small, light strings that are typically displayed during the holiday season. They are a symbol of holiday cheer and prosperity.

Christmas lighting dates back to pagan rituals in northern Europe. The tradition of lighting up evergreen trees during Christmas is believed to be at least 500 years old.

The earliest known reference to a Christmas tree lit up with lights is a 12th-century manuscript called the Yule Log. It was thought to symbolize hope for a return of the sun after darkness.

In the late nineteenth century, an entrepreneur created an appetite for Xmas lights. These novelty lights were initially white. Albert Sadacca turned them into colored bulbs.

During the 1920s, General Electric pre-assembled lights became more readily available. Their new Miniature Lamp Kits and Decorative Lamp Kits helped to spread the practice of Christmas lighting.

While they were cheap, these mini lights were also comparatively small. The popularity of these mini lights eventually led to the development of larger and more powerful string lights.
Eventually, the Christmas light industry began to decline. Most manufacturers went out of business. However, commercial businesses continued to use these lights to drive customers during the holidays.

Today, the Christmas lighting industry has seen tremendous improvements in lighting efficiency. Modern Christmas lighting systems feature small Italian-style bulbs that utilize an alternate path for electricity. This allows for replacement bulbs to ensure that lighting displays remain functional.

In addition to using the traditional C7 or C9 bulb, LED Christmas lights are becoming increasingly popular. These bulbs have the same brightness as incandescent bulbs, but they use less energy.