Why do we put lights on Christmas trees?

December is here! It’s our favourite time of the year here at the Garden Lighting Shop! Snow on the ground, logs in the fire, and best of all – Christmas lights everywhere! Whether you’ve put yours up yet or not, the Christmas tree is probably the most quintessential aspects of the festive season.

Each year we all cut down a tree, (or grab it from the loft), and decorate it with lights, tinsel and decorations - but have you ever thought about how this tradition started?

Well people actually started lighting Christmas trees in the middle of the 17th century. Candles were attached to the end of tree branches with wax or pins and were adhered to the tree to represent shining stars. This tradition started in Germany and spread to Eastern Europe over the next two centuries. As you can imagine this was a serious fire hazard, so most people wouldn’t put their trees up until Christmas Eve, ensuring that they would only be up for a brief period of time while the tree was still fresh and less flammable.

The custom of putting strings of lights on trees began in 1882. Edward Johnson – an associate of Thomas Edison – wired red, white and blue bulbs together and placed them on an evergreen tree. In 1895, President Grover Cleveland followed suit and decorated a Christmas tree in the White House with stringed lights! The public took notice, and the tradition has been ever since.

Not surprisingly, it used to be extremely expensive to have a lit Christmas tree. Electricians would have sold bulbs for this purpose, but they would have needed to be wired together by a professional electrician, so only very affluent people would have had a lit tree.

These days’ festive holiday lights use LED (light-emitting diode) technology. These lights are far more efficient than incandescent lights and have a much longer life-span!

The Christmas tree: It’s long been a symbol of the holiday season. If you’re looking to decorate a tree outdoors this year, our beautiful festoons are a fantastic option. You really can enhance your festivities with our range, which are not only beautiful, but are safe to use and excellent value too! Take a look for yourself here. 

Lighting solutions for small gardens

If you want to enjoy your garden after dark, lighting is the obvious answer! However it can be difficult to get the balance of light and shade right, especially in a smaller outdoor space. Here are some of our top tips for lighting a smaller garden...

Shatter Resistant 10w LED Compact Miniature Floodlight

LED lights are long-lasting and cost effective to run. They work really well as recessed lights in paving and decking, highlighting steps and changes in level on or around the house and terrace.

Used in moderation, they work well to highlight pots and planters. The probably won’t provide enough light to dine out or entertain by, but used in combination with other lights in the garden they can work really well.

LED Garden Spotlights

Plants tend to soak up light in a small garden, and it’s surprising how much it takes to highlight a plant or tree effectively! It’s important to highlight plants properly. Uplights, like these Garden Spotlights, are the best for highlighting plants. These are perfect suitable for the illumination flower beds, shrubs and plants effectively in a smaller garden.

Extendable Rubber Festoon Harness

String lights are perfect for mapping out an area or for decorating in a small garden, and can be used to great effect. The smaller your garden is the less bright, harsh lighting you will need. The effect you should try to achieve when lighting your small garden is not one of a harsh glare of light over the entire scheme, but one where points of interest are highlighted.

From pretty hanging lights to coloured LED lighting, we have it all at The Garden Lighting Shop and we are proud of our selection. We know how to make your small garden glow like it deserves to! If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us for some advice.

A few of our favourite colourful lights

Sometimes coloured lights can look tacky and unattractive, but here at the Garden lighting shop we have a fantastic range of high quality lighting options the can add a touch of colour to your outdoor space that are far from tacky.

We thing subtle colours in garden lights are best, and these options give a glow that with look stunning in any garden!

1. Extendable Rubber Festoon Harness with Coloured Golf Ball Lamps

Ideal for both permanent and temporary outdoor lighting schemes such as festive displays, outdoor parties, patios, weddings and all manner of other functions.

Code: C25/15COLGOLF
Price: £57.00

2. Low Voltage Coloured Mini Lantern Party Light Set

Code: 4164-500

Price: £29.95

A popular product for outdoor party and festive applications! This set consists of 40 miniature lanterns with coloured lenses, spaced every 250mm offers a 9.75m lighting display.

3. Coloured Dichroic Halogen Lamps

Available in five vibrant colours, these 12v Pro-colour Dichroic Low Voltage lamps are suitable for interior and exterior applications. The colour surface of the glass will not crack or flake offering constant colour throughout the life of the lamp at a 38 deg beam angle!

Price: £2.95

4. Coloured Festoon Lamps

These lamps are suitable for 2330 Commercial Grade Festoon Harness, available is red, blue, yellow and green, creating a beautiful multi coloured glow!

Code: 2683-521

Price: £1.25

5. Shatter Resistant Compact Miniature Floodlight

This miniature highly efficient floodlight is offered with an RGB auto change led light source offering energy efficient automatic colour changing lighting at its very best. Great for interesting and effective illumination of landscapes, facades and architectural features both indoors and out.

Code: FL10MC

Price: £31.65

6. Shatter Resistant 10w Coloured LED Compact Miniature Floodlight

This range of miniature highly efficient floodlights is offered with a choice of decorative coloured led light sources offering the opportunity to create stunning coloured lighting effects. Ideal for the illumination of landscapes areas, facades and architectural features! A choice of red, blue, yellow and green is available.