Christmas lights are a beautiful way to add twinkle and warmth to a holiday experience. Whether you use small individual bulbs or grand, lighted displays, the effect of illuminated holiday decorations is undeniable. Christmas lights first gained popularity as a holiday display with Edison's new light bulb in 1880. By 1882, an American newspaper reported that citizens of Louisville, Kentucky decorated their homes with electric lights. While these early lighted decorations were large and cumbersome by today's standards, they started an annual trend of electric Christmas decorations. Since the 1890s, pre-lit Christmas trees have become increasingly popular. Inventors steadily improved on designs, eventually resulting in contemporary trees composed of interconnected light strands that allow for easy and fast installation. At the same time, the flexibility of the light strands have given users the ability to manipulate and create eye-catching ones of their own. As their power consumption continues to drop, LED Christmas lights have become the top choice for many home owners. The lights use much less electricity and come in a large variety of styles and colors. They also last much longer, allowing home owners to save money on maintenance and replacement costs. Christmas lights are an irreplaceable element of a traditional winter landscape. With its range of electric decorations, a house that has never looked more alive than when dressed in Christmas lights.