Fun Facts About Christmas Lights!
Christmas lights are a staple of the holiday season. They add a touch of magic to homes and businesses alike, and they're a great way to spread holiday cheer. But did you know that there's a lot of interesting history and fun facts behind Christmas lights?
Here are a few things you may not know about Christmas lights:
1. Thomas Edison invented the first electric Christmas lights.
In 1882, Edison's colleague Edward H. Johnson strung 80 colored electric lights around a Christmas tree in Edison's New York City laboratory. The lights were a huge success, and they quickly became a popular way to decorate for the holiday season.
2. The first Christmas lights were expensive.
Early electric Christmas lights were hand-wired and made with delicate glass bulbs. As a result, they were very expensive. It wasn't until the early 1900s that Christmas lights became more affordable for the average family.
3. The first Christmas lights were used to decorate the White House in 1894.
President Grover Cleveland was the first president to decorate the White House with Christmas lights. He had 100 electric lights strung around the Christmas tree on the South Lawn.
4. The world's largest Christmas light display is at the National Grove of Lights in Grove City, Ohio.
The National Grove of Lights features over 3 million lights, and it's one of the most popular Christmas light displays in the United States.
5. The most Christmas lights ever used on a single tree was 500,000.
In 2014, a Christmas tree in Norway was decorated with 500,000 lights. The tree was over 200 feet tall, and it could be seen for miles.
6. The longest strand of Christmas lights is over 5 miles long.
In 2009, a group of people in Australia strung together a strand of Christmas lights that was over 5 miles long. The lights were draped over trees and buildings in the town of Albany, Western Australia.
7. The best-selling Christmas light colors are white and red.
White and red are the most popular Christmas light colors, but green, blue, and yellow are also popular choices.
8. Over 150 million light sets are sold in the United States each year.
That's a lot of lights!
9. Christmas lights use about 6% of the nation's electrical load each December.
That's a lot of electricity, but it's worth it to make the holiday season bright and cheery.
10. Christmas lights can help to reduce crime.
A study by the University of Pennsylvania found that neighborhoods with more Christmas lights had lower crime rates. The researchers believe that the lights make the neighborhood feel more welcoming and cohesive, which can deter criminals.
So, not only do Christmas lights make our neighborhoods look festive and cheerful, they may also help to make them safer. That's a fun fact I can get behind!
Conclusion
Christmas lights are a fun and festive way to decorate for the holiday season. They're also a great way to show your holiday spirit. So next time you're putting up your Christmas lights, take a moment to appreciate the history and fun facts behind them.
