Thomas Edison invented strands of lights in 1880, but it was over a decade before holiday lights became coveted household holiday wares. The cost of a single decorated tree would be $300 in today’s currency due to each bulb needing to be wired by an electrician. Then in 1903, the General Electric Company started selling pre-assembled light kits that customers could rent from department stores for about $1.50 a strand – changing the way we light up our celebrations forever.

Source: one, two