The Evolution of Christmas Lights: From Candles to LEDs
Christmas is truly an amazing time of year, filled with countless things to do, plan for, and see. One of the most iconic elements of this holiday season that we all look forward to is the dazzling displays of Christmas lights. Each year, people eagerly unpack their lights or invest in the latest festive trends to adorn their homes and trees with colorful and cheerful reminders of the holiday season.
Candlelit Beginnings
The tradition of Christmas lights began modestly, with candles serving as the primary source of illumination. These candles were initially attached to the tree using wax or pins. This tradition can be traced back to Germany in the 17th century, and over the next two centuries, it became a widespread practice in Germany and eventually spread to other countries in Eastern Europe.
The original purpose of these candles was to bring illumination to the ornaments adorning the tree. This practice continued until around 1900, when candleholders gained popularity and started replacing wax and pins as a means to secure the candles to the tree. The purpose, however, remained the same: to illuminate and make the beautiful ornaments on the tree even more visible.
Pastor Wayne, one of our blog readers, read this article earlier this year and has this to add:
Thank you for providing a history of Christmas lights. I have been doing some research out of pure curiosity.
I recommend including the origins according to German tradition, that Martin Luther first put candles on the tree for his children as a teaching tool. The candles he decorated the tree with represented the star that led the Wise Men to Christ. It definitely has Christian roots and symbolism according to quite a few sources; not just to “illuminate the pretty stuff on the tree.”
That’s super interesting. Who knew?! We love the traditions and cultural lore associated with lights, trees, and ornaments.
The Advent of Glass Ornaments
Glass ornaments were used to light trees since at least the 1500s. Interest in decorating Christmas trees with ornaments peaked when Queen Victoria’s tree was featured in a London newspaper. About the same time people started using small lanterns and ornaments to hold candles. This marked a significant shift in the history of Christmas lights and it paved the way to the era of electric lighting.