The Beginning

• Illumination of Christmas trees originated in Germany in the 17th century. Candles were attached to the tree branches with pins. Aside from the risk of fire, there were always wax drippings to clean off of the floor and the presents beneath the tree.
  
  

The First Electric Lights

• In 1882, Edward Johnson, vice-president of the Edison Company for Electric Lighting, put electric lights on a Christmas tree for the first time. This was just three years after the invention of the first practical light bulb. He used about 80 lights in red, white and blue.
  
  

Lights for Sale

• In 1890, Edison included electric lights for Christmas trees in its catalog. These early lights were cumbersome to use because each light had to be hand wired. Edison offered them for sale or rent.
  
  

First Use in the White House

• President Grover Cleveland was the first president to use electric lights on a Christmas tree in the White House in 1895. The White House tree boasted more than 100 lights.
  
  

Pre-wired Sets

• In 1903, the General Electric Company began selling pre-wired socket sets. These light sets were manufactured by the American Eveready Company. A set of 24 lights cost $12, which was quite expensive at the time. Only the very wealthy were able to purchase them.
  
  

Albert Sadacca

• In 1917, Albert Sadacca was a teenager whose family owned a novelty lighting company. At his suggestion, they began selling strands of the colored Christmas lights in their store. A few years later, he and his brothers formed the National Outfit Manufacturers Association, also know as NOMA. It eventually became the NOMA Electric Company.
  
  

Today

• Today we don't think twice about buying multiple sets of lights for our Christmas trees. Our biggest dilemma choosing from the numerous colors and styles available.