Christmas Light Facts

I know that Christmas is over but you probably still have your lights up so this post is still relevant. Plus, I learned this by watching one of those TLC shows about people who have so many lights in their yard that it drains the entire states power supply. I was just too amazed by the information to wait all the way until next year so here it is now.

Apparently, the use of electric lights on the Christmas tree was thought of by Edward H. Johnson who was VP of the Edison Electric Light Company. You know Edison as in Thomas Edison? Well Edward H. Johnson apparently worked with him. He brought home a strand that according to Wikipedia had 80 red, white and blue small incandescent light bulbs to decorate his tree. I don't know what this did to his insurance quotes. Now he is known as the Father of electric Christmas tree lights. The strands were much too expensive for just anybody to own. Grover Cleveland lit up the first electric Christmas tree in 1895 that had get this, over 100 lights on it. Makes you think twice about the strands of lights that you can get at the dollar store.

Here is a public domain photo of the first electric Christmas tree lights.