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Today, it seems natural to us that a Christmas tree should be lit up with hundreds of small coloured lights. But there was a time when this idea was pure science fiction. The history of first electric Christmas tree It is a story of ingenuity, curiosity and innovation: a moment when technology began to transform even the most ancient traditions.

From candles to light bulbs: the safety revolution

Before the end of the nineteenth century, Christmas trees were decorated with real candles, fixed with wax or small metal supports. The effect was impressive, but extremely dangerous: even a slight movement of air was enough to turn the party into a fire. In 1882, in New York, an engineer named Edward H. Johnson, a collaborator of Thomas Edison, had a revolutionary idea: to use electricity to illuminate the tree. Johnson connected 80 tiny red, white and blue bulbs to a generator and arranged them in a spiral pattern on a fir tree. His house on Fifth Avenue became a real attraction: passers-by stopped, enchanted, to watch this spectacle of light they had never seen before.

Interesting facts: the bulbs Johnson used were hand-blown and painted with transparent paints, since industrial production did not yet exist.

An idea ahead of its time

At the time, electricity was still a rarity in homes. Light bulbs were expensive and electrical systems were not widespread, so Johnson's invention remained a curiosity reserved for the few for a long time. It was only around the 1920s, with the mass production of Christmas Tree Lights by General Electric, the idea became accessible to the general public. In 1903, General Electric itself launched the first pre-assembled kit: a copper wire with bulbs already fitted and an adapter for domestic sockets.

Interesting facts: At the beginning of the 20th century, a complete set of Christmas lights could cost the equivalent of $2,000 today, which is why it was rented by department stores or used only in the wealthiest homes in New York and Boston.

Technology that combines tradition and innovation

Johnson's electric tree was not just a stage prop: it was a symbol of progress, a sign that technology could bring safety, beauty and wonder into everyone's homes. Since then, Christmas lights have continued to evolve: from incandescent bulbs to Low-energy LED, up to smart chains controllable via app or voice commands.

Interesting facts: The first “smart” Christmas tree lights date back to the early 2000s, when some companies began developing Bluetooth or Wi-Fi control systems.

Edward H. Johnson's experiment represents one of the first instances in which technology has succeeded in combining safety, aesthetics and innovation in an everyday gesture.
Today, every little light that shines on our tree is a tribute to human ingenuity: a reminder of when science began to illuminate not only our homes, but also our festive moments.

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