Like many Christmas Season traditions, the decorating of Christmas Trees has evolved greatly over the years.As early as the 17th century, Christmas trees in Germany (and eventually in the US) were originally lit up by attaching candles to the branches with wax or wire.These candles were then lit to create the beautiful effect of a lighted Christmas tree.It also created a major fire hazard.Trees normally weren't decorated until Christmas Eve, and people always made sure to keep a bucket of sand or water near the tree for the inevitable fires that would break out.A huge change came about when electricity was invented.The very first Christmas Tree to be lit by electric lights was lit in 1882 by Edward Johnson.Mr.Johnson was a business associate of Thomas Edison.He hand wired red, white, and blue lights and wrapped them around a Christmas tree.Using electric lighting did not come to the attention of the general public though for another 13 years when President Cleveland first lit a tree in the White House in 1895.Although this made the public more aware of the possibility of using electric lights, it was still very expensive to do.The lights had to be hand wired by a "wireman" and usually cost about $300 to do( which would be about $2000 today).Christmas Tree parties became popular among the well to do, but most people were still using candlelight.Then, in 1900, GE ran the first advertisement for Christmas lamps to be used on trees.A year later, the first pre-wired light sets were offered to the general public.Still, they were mostly used by businesses and store fronts to decorate for the Holiday Season rather than in homes.In 1903, electric Christmas Tree lights were finally made more accessible to the public.These were the first sets that had bulbs you could screw in and a plug, and using electric lights really started becoming popular.Another progression in the late 1800's was the invention of artificial Christmas Trees.They originated in Germany and were made of metal wires with dyed feathers attached to look like pine needles.Artificial trees progressed to silver ones in the 1900's.I'm sure you've all seen the style that was popular in the 1950's.The trees were silver and had a colored light underneath that made the tree change colors.These trees have become a popular collector's item.Nowadays, artificial trees have progressed from beautiful, real looking trees to pristine white trees to prelit Christmas trees made with either fiber optics or regular lights.You don't even have to worry about lights anymore, they come on the tree! Unless you're like me, I like to change my color theme every year or two.My tree always has different colored lights on it.Last year was blue and silver! I'm still deciding what this year will be.Some artificial trees even come with faux snow on them, with pine cones and berries for color.You almost don't have to decorate them!Whether you're someone who loves tradition and decorates your tree the same every year, or someone like me who likes to change it up, think about all the progress that's been made over the years when you're putting up your tree this year.You'll never look at your tree the same again.Happy Holidays!
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