Lights are pretty… at Christmas.
- Christmas lights are mainly used around Christmas time and usually come in a ‘string’ of 50 or 100, or other quantities.
- Christmas lights originally were candles on a tree but in the late 1800s, electric Christmas lights were invented.
- Christmas lights are also known as fairy, twinkle, holiday, mini or Italy lights.
- In December 1882, Edward H Johnson, vice president of the Edison Electric Light Company at the time, was the first known person to decorate a Christmas tree with electric Christmas lights, which he had custom made for the purpose.
- Christmas lights replaced most Christmas candles in the 1930s. Prior to that, they were too expensive.
- Christmas lights were originally dull and boring looking but soon looked exciting and pretty. Modern technology has seen the invention of amazing sets of lights.
- Many people put up Christmas lights on their house and in there backyard and many families come to see them. This tradition in America is called ‘Tacky Light Tour’.
- Although Christmas lights were made for Christmas, these types of lights have been used for many occasions, most notably Halloween.
- The region of Shijiao, China recycles over 9 million kilograms (20 million pounds) of discarded Christmas lights every year. They recycle every part of Christmas lights, to make an assortment of things, including the soles of slippers.
- The tradition of Christmas lights started in North America.