Holiday Countdown
Day 13: Lights
Author: Alison Fong is the outreach intern for the University of Arkansas Museum, Museum Advisory Council member and a senior majoring in History, International & Global Studies, and Asian Studies.
Did you know that Christmas trees used to be lit with real candles!?
An old German tradition, candles were affixed to the tree with wax or pins and were supposed to illuminate the ornaments on the tree. In 1900, candle holders became more popular than plain wax or pins, but it was soon phased out by electric bulbs in 1915.
The first Christmas tree to be illuminated by electric lights was in 1882. You can read more about Edward Johnson, friend of Thomas Edison, and how his idea to light a Christmas tree with electric bulbs thwarted future fire hazards here: Untangling the History of Christmas Lights | History
Speaking of lights, it has become a tradition for American households to decorate their front porch or the whole house with light displays. (We can’t forget the classic Christmas Vacation lighting scene!) There are neighborhood contests to see who has the better light display, and some even time their lights to Christmas carols. It really is a whole affair that makes driving around the suburbs during the holidays all the more magical!
Families aren’t the only ones who get to have all the fun – cities and towns do as well! In Fayetteville, I believe that the most iconic holiday event is the Light of the Ozarks! Since my first year as a freshman at UARK, I’ve been to the Fayetteville square every year to see the lights. It’s not the largest lighting display, but it’s the coziest in my opinion, lined with dazzling lights and fixtures and warm food trucks to fill your belly.
Here are some pictures from my visits to the Lights of the Ozarks over the past years:
