- published: 01 Dec 2010
- views: 29397624
Christmas lights are lights used for decoration around Christmas. The custom harks back to the use of candles to decorate the Christmas tree in upper-class Protestant homes in 18th-century Germany. Christmas trees displayed publicly and illuminated with electric lights became popular in the early 20th century. By the mid-20th century, it became customary to display strings of electric lights as Christmas decoration detached from the Christmas tree itself, along streets and buildings. In the United States, it became popular to outline private homes with such Christmas lights in tract housing beginning in the 1960s. By the late 20th century, the custom had also been adopted in non-western countries, notably in Japan.
The Christmas tree was adopted in upper-class homes in 18th-century Germany, where it was occasionally decorated with candles, which at the time was a comparatively expensive light source. Candles for the tree were glued with melted wax to a tree branch or attached by pins. Around 1890, candleholders were first used for Christmas candles. Between 1902 and 1914, small lanterns and glass balls to hold the candles started to be used. Early electric Christmas lights were introduced with electrification, beginning in the 1880s.
On the first day of Christmas
my true love gave to me . . .
a partridge in a pear tree!
On the second day of Christmas
my true love gave to me . . .
two turtle doves
and a partridge in a pear tree!
On the third day of Christmas
my true love gave to me . . .
three French hens
two turtle doves
and a partridge in a pear tree!
On the fourth day of Christmas
my true love gave to me . . .
four calling birds
three French hens
two turtle doves
and a partridge in a pear tree!
On the fifth day of Christmas
my true love gave to me . . .
five golden rings!
four calling birds
three French hens
two turtle doves
and a partridge in a pear tree!
On the sixth day of Christmas
my true love gave to me . . .
six geese a layin'
five golden rings!
four calling birds
three French hens
two turtle doves
and a partridge in a pear tree!
On the seventh day of Christmas
my true love gave to me . . .
seven swans a swimmin'
six geese a layin'
five golden rings!
four calling birds
three French hens
two turtle doves
and a partridge in a pear tree!
On the eighth day of Christmas
my true love gave to me . . .
eight maids a milkin'
seven swans a swimmin'
six geese a layin'
five golden rings!
four calling birds
three French hens
two turtle doves
and a partridge in a pear tree!
On the ninth day of Christmas
my true love gave to me . . .
nine pipers pipin'
eight maids a milkin'
seven swans a swimmin'
six geese a layin'
five golden rings!
four calling birds
three French hens
two turtle doves
and a partridge in a pear tree!
On the tenth day of Christmas
my true love gave to me . . .
ten ladies dancin'
nine pipers pipin'
eight maids a milkin'
seven swans a swimmin'
six geese a layin'
five golden rings!
four calling birds
three French hens
two turtle doves
and a partridge in a pear tree!
On the eleventh day of Christmas
my true love gave to me . . .
eleven Lords a leapin'
ten ladies dancin'
nine pipers pipin'
eight maids a milkin'
seven swans a swimmin'
six geese a layin'
five golden rings!
four calling birds
three French hens
two turtle doves
and a partridge in a pear tree!
On the twelfth day of Christmas
my true love gave to me . . .
twelve drummers drummin'
eleven Lords a leapin'
ten ladies dancin'
nine pipers pipin'
eight maids milkin'
seven swans a swimmin'
six geese a layin'
five golden rings!
four calling birds
three French hens
two turtle doves