As the holiday season approaches, people from all walks of life would go out of their way to make sure the Christmas spirit is very much alive. Holiday socks are pinned near the fireplace and Christmas trees are being displayed in the living room. Of course, the Christmas tree lights will never be left out. For what good is a Christmas tree without those stunning little lights?
Whilst most people believe that these fancy lights are used merely for holiday decoration, Christmas lights symbolize something thats far more important. As far as the Christian Faith is concerned, these fairy lights represent the stars in the sky, specifically the star that guided the Three Wise Men in Bethlehem where a child named Jesus was born. The stable scene has been recreated in movies and in art installations to signify the humble birth of the Saviour.
Germany, on the other hand, believes that Christmas lights were first used in the homes of wealthy Germans as far back as the 17th century. Back then, electricity did not exist yet. There were no bulbs nor led lights. Instead, the residents used actual candles. These candles were placed on trees specifically to light up the ornaments that were hung on the tree branches. To keep these candles from moving or from falling off the tree, people would glue them using melted wax or use a pin to keep them in place. At the turn of the 20th century, local folks decided to use candleholders instead. Years later, some residents thought it would be best to just simply use glass balls and small lanterns.
The advent of the modern Christmas lights happened in 1882 when Edward Johnson, a known colleague of Thomas Edison, thought of creating an electric-powered light source that could illuminate a Christmas tree in New York City. He started with just 80 small bulbs for the project and it already proved to be a success. In just two decades, a new industry had been born. Electric lights started to get mass produced and almost every store in the US was displaying these lighting products.
At the time of its creation, there were no known major occurrences that were caused by lighting fixtures. Because of this, safety was not in the priority list when small light bulbs were first invented. When a huge fire broke out in New York City due to faulty Christmas lights, the quest for safer and more stylish holiday lights had begun. Added safety features make it possible for them to be used outdoors. Soon after, Christmas lights were no longer kept within the confines of the home. They were everywhere. Parks, pubs, bars, restaurants and other commercial establishments all had put up flashing lights not just to draw a crowd but also to partake in the festive mood that the holidays usually bring. It was not long after that the whole world took notice.
As years passed, these wonderful light bulbs had undergone some major changes to make them the Christmas light that people know today. Today, Christmas lights have been the perennial element in the holiday festivities. To add more effect to any holiday decoration, homeowners can even choose from a wide variety of these lighting fixtures. One can even put up a vast fairy lighting display even without any power source. This is made possible through the use of connectable lights. You can mix and match different types of lighting, from icicle lights to curtain and net variants, all using one power plug.
Of course, different places have different preferences when it comes to their holiday lighting. Cosmopolitan cities usually opt for a more extravagant lighting display whereas rural towns prefer the more traditional lighting fixtures.
When something has been a part of a rich tradition in different parts of the world, it is quite important to know the history behind it. Such is the case with
Christmas tree lights. These miniature lights not only add an extra pizzazz to the holiday decoration, they are also quite symbolic. Whether its the typical
fairy lights or the more complicated
connectable lights, house owners will have a piece of history with every dazzling display of light that they put up in their homes.
