LIGHT UP! Rockford 2023 Christmas Lights Photo Gallery
LIGHT UP! Rockford 2023 with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 364. See all the entries including this year's winner.
LIGHT UP! Rockford 2023
As in years past, all that was required to enter this contest was to send us at least one photo of your holiday decorations. This contest couldn't have been any easier to try to win and the grand prize of $500.
Ever wondered why we wrap trees and everything in lights at Christmas time?
Why We Put Up Christmas Lights
According to one source on the history of Christmas lights, hundreds of years ago, Norsemen celebrated the midwinter holiday, Yule. In addition to celebrations and singing, this holiday also featured a burning log in every home fireplace.
The tradition spread throughout Europe, and for Christians the light in the darkness came to symbolize Jesus.
First Lighted Christmas Tree
The first known electrically illuminated Christmas tree was the creation of Edward H. Johnson, who worked closely with Thomas Edison. The tree was hand-wired with 80 red, white, and blue electric incandescent light bulbs that were the size of walnuts. The tree was plugged in on December 22, 1882, at his home on Fifth Avenue in New York City.
By 1900, businesses started stringing up Christmas lights behind their windows as Christmas lights were still too expensive for the average person.
It would be almost three decades later before people started replacing the candles on their trees with electric lights.
Stateline Christmas Lights 2023
Gallery Credit: Steve Shannon
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Gallery Credit: Annalise Mantz & Madison Troyer