When Were Christmas Lights First Used for Trees?

Overview

When Were Christmas Lights First Used for Trees?

Christmas trees are a centerpiece of the winter holiday season. Christians worldwide celebrate the High Holy Day with trees that are decorated. One type of decoration is strings of lights, which have been used for Christmas trees for more than 120 years.
Holiday Lighting

Christmas trees as holiday decorations date back to 15th-century Germany. Candles were often used to light the trees and candles were the decorations electric lights were created to mimic.

History

Three years after Thomas Edison publicly demonstrated electric lights, his assistant Edward Johnson used electric lights on Christmas trees in 1882, according to Facts About Christmas. That idea was further refined by Ralph Morris, who strung lights used for telephone switchboards.
Significance

Electric lights on Christmas trees symbolize the light that Jesus Christ brings to the lives of people. The light is also an ancient symbol for the triumph of spring over winter, according to Christmas-Day.org.
Types

In addition to lights that are used on trees indoors, Christmas lights are also used on trees and other structures outside. That tradition began in the late 1920s, according to OldChristmasLights.org.
Safety

Modern-day Christmas lights are smaller, lighter and burn brighter than their predecessors. Like all electric items, standard safety protocol should be followed and lights should be kept away from water and only run for short periods.