My husband and I made our first annual trek to look at twinkling
displays set up in the local neighborhood. We’ll go out several times and view
the icicled porches, decorated yards and shining stars that luminate the
season.
According to Tabya Gulevich in Christmas from A to Z, Thomas Edison strung the first outdoor
lights. In 1880 he hung them outside of his Menlo Park Laboratory. But,
pre-strung electric lights didn’t catch on until after World War II when the
average American had electricity and could afford the lights.
I can imagine that first holiday when neighborhoods joined
together to create shining light shows. The pure joy of colorful vibrant lights
must have brought a happy buoyancy to the night.
Before the holidays end, I hope to take a ride with my
grandchildren and enjoy the sparkling holiday lights near their homes. We’ll ohhh
and ahhh over our favorite displays. Take an evening and pile the family in the
car. Drive around, view the lights and spend time sharing this joy of the
season.
One of my favorite memories of Christmas lights was the year
that my brother climbed our 15+ foot pine tree and strung it with bulbs. That
tree lighted the night sky like a lighthouse at sea.
What’s your favorite light
display memory?
nailors is pretty high. there was a house in amelia that was pretty fantastic for a few years. and the year dad and i were driving around looking at lights and i got distracted by looking and knocked the mirror off his truck on a mailbox. oops.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know that-that's a funny memory. Yes-Naylor's is up there.
ReplyDelete