Illumination

The use of little candles to light up the Christmas tree goes back to the middle of the 17th century. However, it was only in the beginning of the 19th century that the custom really became widespread in Germany, and soon after in Slavic countries of Eastern Europe. The first candles were attached to the end of the branches using wax or pins. After that came the arrival of little lanterns and candle-holders making it easier to hang the candles. Clip on candle-holders appeared in 1890. As for glass bulbs and lanterns, they were created between 1902 and 1914.

It is in New York, in 1882, that the first Christmas tree was lit up with electric bulbs. Edward Johnson, an associate of Thomas Edison, lit up a Christmas tree with a garland of 80 small electric light bulbs, that he had made himself. The commercial production of this type of garland began around 1890. In 1896 the first Christmas tree lit up with electric light bulbs was erected in Westmount, in Quebec. In 1900, certain large stores installed large illuminated Christmas trees to attract customers.

And so the trend began, this custom spread to Canada as electricity spread to cities and the countryside. This technological innovation changed the habit of putting up the Christmas tree only on the 24th of December, because of fire hazard. From then on, it was possible to put up the tree earlier and take it down only the day after Passover.