6 Illuminating Fun Facts About Christmas Lights You Never Knew

1. Christmas Lights: A Tesla-Level Luxury

Back in the day, decking the halls with dazzling lights was like owning a Tesla: only the elite could afford it: Before pre-assembled Christmas light kits were available, lighting an average Christmas tree with electric lights could cost about $2000 in today's dollars, making it a luxury for the wealthy who sought the services of a wireman or electrician, as noted by the Library of Congress.
Source => loc.gov

2. GE Festoons: Week's Pay for Tree Bling

Back in the ho-ho-ho Humble Days of Yore, decking the halls with boughs of jolly required deep pockets for high society ballers: In the early 1900s, only the wealthy could afford electric Christmas lights, and General Electric's 1903 introduction of pre-wired strings called "festoons" fetched a week's pay for the average American worker. Renting the swanky tree bling per season cost about $1.50, while hand-wiring lights summoned the skills of a "wireman" for an incredibly laborious process.
Source => baltimoresun.com

Did you know that before Christmas trees became popular, Germans in the 17th and 18th centuries used to build festive wooden pyramid decorations inspired by Naples' ornate plague-ending marble spires? Discover the history behind these unique holiday ornaments!

=> Fun Facts about Christmas-Ornaments

3. Gay Family: World Record Light Show

Twinkling their way to victory in a festive showdown of Clark Griswold proportions: The Gay family from Lagrangeville, New York holds the world record for the most Christmas lights on a residential property, boasting over 703,000 lights in their 2021 display, controlled by a computer with nearly 2,000 items, and running every night from November 25th to December 28th as a drive-through-only spectacle.
Source => bigfrog104.com

4. Enchant Christmas: Clark Griswold's Rival

What do you get when you mix a towering evergreen, a dazzling light labyrinth, and the magic of Christmas, all swirled into one epic extravaganza? A holiday spectacle giving Clark Griswold a run for his money: Enchant Christmas dazzles with a 100-foot-tall tree at the heart of its 10 acres of story-driven brilliance, featuring an ice-skating trail, festive market, seasonal treats, and Santa himself – making it a worldwide must-experience during the most wonderful time of the year.
Source => enchantchristmas.com

5. Edison's Spark: First Electric Tree

Twinkle, twinkle, little Edison: The first electrically-lit Christmas tree illuminated the Big Apple in 1882, when Edward Johnson, who worked with Thomas Edison, bedecked his tree with red, white, and blue lights. This sparked the tradition of Christmas tree and home decoration with strings of lights that evolved from being a luxury item to a household staple. Today, LED lights brighten the holidays while conserving energy, proving that Santa's not the only one capable of "sleighing" the efficiency game!
Source => christmas-light-source.com

6. LED Lights: Outshining Griswold's Dreams

Move over, Clark Griswold: LED Christmas lights are here to outshine your wildest National Lampoon dreams! Seriously though: LED Christmas lights boast increased safety, an impressive lifespan, and substantial energy savings compared to traditional incandescent lights.
Source => nytimes.com