<P> The first known electrically illuminated Christmas tree was the creation of Edward H. Johnson , an associate of inventor Thomas Edison . While he was vice president of the Edison Electric Light Company , a predecessor of today 's Con Edison electric utility , he had Christmas tree light bulbs especially made for him . He proudly displayed his Christmas tree , which was hand - wired with 80 red , white and blue electric incandescent light bulbs the size of walnuts , on December 22 , 1882 at his home on Fifth Avenue in New York City . Local newspapers ignored the story , seeing it as a publicity stunt . However , it was published by a Detroit newspaper reporter , and Johnson has become widely regarded as the Father of Electric Christmas Tree Lights . By 1900 , businesses started stringing up Christmas lights behind their windows . Christmas lights were too expensive for the average person ; as such , electric Christmas lights did not become the majority replacement for candles until 1930 . </P>
<P> The first known electrically illuminated Christmas tree was the creation of Edward H. Johnson , an associate of inventor Thomas Edison . While he was vice president of the Edison Electric Light Company , a predecessor of today 's Con Edison electric utility , he had Christmas tree light bulbs especially made for him . He proudly displayed his Christmas tree , which was hand - wired with 80 red , white and blue electric incandescent light bulbs the size of walnuts , on December 22 , 1882 at his home on Fifth Avenue in New York City . Local newspapers ignored the story , seeing it as a publicity stunt . However , it was published by a Detroit newspaper reporter , and Johnson has become widely regarded as the Father of Electric Christmas Tree Lights . By 1900 , businesses started stringing up Christmas lights behind their windows . Christmas lights were too expensive for the average person ; as such , electric Christmas lights did not become the majority replacement for candles until 1930 . </P>
who came up with the idea of electric christmas tree lights
who came up with the idea of electric christmas tree lights
Edward H. Johnson
Edward H. Johnson