Mychiller Christmas on Croglog
One of the most noted features for the Christmas is the Christmas Lights. That's right they are part of the decorating process more than anything, they go in the trees, the go on the walls, anywhere where you can reach them with an outlet, or stretch with an extension cord. (wonderful)
It works for the time of year where darkness settles in before 5PM, bringing light to dark winter' s night, where the nights are long. Christmas is the light in the darkness , so to speak. Where did the idea of putting a bunch of extra lights on things for a holiday come from?
There's a story that connects us to the protestant reformation, specially, Martin Luther. (Yes) There's also the idea the Christmas tree idea conceptually originated in what is modern Germany where yes, Martian Luther was also from. (timing!) The story goes that Luther was in the German forest thinking about his sermon (of course!) and wasn't paying attention to time and it got dark. Of course, this is a forest, meaning that things live there, and some of those things like to come out a night, and they might also be a danger. Luther grew worried, and wandered around until he realized that the night means starts.(That's right he saw Ethel Merman, oh you mean the other stars, never mind!)
The twinkling stars and especially in the evergreen trees. He was inspired and didn't get eaten by animals, that'd be a dark story.
I'm impressed
So being enthralled he looked that the trees and with the star light in them and wanted to re-create that . The best plan was to take a tree from outside and drag it home.(As one does) He wanted to surprise is family. ( I would be surprised too, man just brought a tree inside) He apparently saw his triangle shaped candle holder was inspired.
He wasn't the inventor of the idea of Christmas trees (can you invent an idea?) because people in what is now Germany would bring in trees for the holiday and hang them upside down from beams in their homes, they were also not decorated. He decided to put a tree up right (the mad man!) and put candles in the tree.
Now there's something dangerous about putting live fire into a tree that could also possible dry, out tip over, or someone gets drunk tips in the tree and (what?) it's dangerous , but the was the way! The idea spread into the new world almost 300 years later.
The 19th century, electricity was becoming a thing and the electric light bulb was invented, this leads to the year 1882. Edward Johnson, someone who worked with Thomas Edison, also was inspired. He took the idea and decided to create something from that. His family would decorate their Christmas tree and decided instead of candles of death, use electricity of death instead!
He decided to use a string of colored electric lights he made at the lab (as one does) they were eight pear shaped bulbs on single string. The media was amazed. To be fair, since a the time electricity was new and not heavily trusted (even a president didn't trust it) this wasn't a fad. Also the bulbs were expensive because it was 1882. Some wealthy folks liked the idea and could do it, but most stuck with the flames.
“Last evening I walked over beyond Fifth Avenue and called at the residence of Edward H. Johnson, vice-president of Edison's electric company. There, at the rear of the beautiful parlors, was a large Christmas tree, presenting a most picturesque and uncanny aspect. It was brilliantly lighted with many colored globes about as large as an English walnut and was turning some six times a minute on a little pine box. There were eighty lights in all encased in these dainty glass eggs, and about equally divided between white, red and blue. As the tree turned, the colors alternated, all the lamps going out and being relit at every revolution. The result was a continuous twinkling of dancing colors, red, white and blue, all evening.
I need not tell you that the scintillating evergreen was a pretty sight - one can hardly imagine anything prettier. The ceiling was crossed obliquely with two wires on which hung 28 more of the tiny lights; and all the lights and the fantastic tree itself with its starry fruit were kept going by the slight electric current brought from the main office on a filmy wire. The tree was kept revolving by a little hidden crank below the floor which was turned by electricity. It was a superb exhibition.”
- From "The Detriot Post and Tribune" (Thanks to the reprinted in Ace Collins, Stories Behind the Great Traditions of Christmas (2003), 120.)
By sometime though, things were getting cheaper and electricity was getting more adapted. The price by 1910 was $12, though that was expensive for most families back then. A legend says that In 1917, Albert Sadacca, a teenager, heard about a fire caused by a Christmas tree candle fire, and urged his family who sold novleity products to make Christmas lights.
Eventually, lights did become affordable and the idea of tree lightings, decorating areas and more started to become a tradition. In the 1970's the invention of the mini light made it even more usable and are the lights people use this day.
Sources :
Collins, A. (2010). Stories Behind the Great Traditions of Christmas. United States: Zondervan.p.118
Popular Mechanics : https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/gadgets/g1018/a-brief-history-of-christmas-light
The Libary of Congress https://www.loc.gov/everyday-mysteries/item/who-invented-electric-christmas-lights/
Thought CO. https://www.thoughtco.com/history-of-electric-christmas-tree-lights-1773789#:~:text=An%201882%20dispatch%20in%20the%20Detroit%20Post%20and,%E2%80%9Cthe%20handsomest%20Christmas%20tree%20in%20the%20United%20States.%E2%80%9D
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