Guide Note
Christmas lights are strands of electric lights that are used as decoration during the Christmas season. Christmas lights can be used indoors, to decorate a Christmas tree or used outdoors to decorate a home, building or landscape.
Fast Facts
- Also known as "fairy lights" or "twinkle lights"
- Used to decorate Christmas trees, homes and buildings
- First known electrically lit Christmas tree created by Edward H. Johnson in 1882
- Types of Christmas lights include incandescent, bubble lights, LED, and fiber optic
History
Edward H. Johnson was the first reported person to use lights on a Christmas tree, creating a specially made light set in 1882 in New York City. At the time, electric lights were expensive and for many years lights were only used indoors. The first outdoor lights were likely used in San Francisco in 1904.
Buying Guide
When shopping for lights, a main consideration is what the lights will be used for. Smaller and less expensive lights are better suited for indoor use, while larger and more expensive lights sets are better for outdoor displays. Christmas lights come in a variety of colors, from white to red, green, blue, gold and pink, among others. Many higher end light sets also have supplementary functions, such as flashing and fading.
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