The evolution of decorating the outside of a house or business at the holidays started years and years ago with Christmas trees having candles on them.

We now know that’s not the safest of traditions.

Edward H. Johnson, a peer of Thomas Edison, is credited with bringing electric lights to a Christmas tree in 1882.

In 1900, businesses strung lights inside to frame their windows. With electricity being so expensive, this was not something the average person took part in.

It took until 1930 for most homes to use electric lights instead of candles on trees.

Rockefeller Center first had lights on its famous tree in 1931.

Now all sorts of things — inside and out — are brightly lighted this time of year.

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