Christmas lights create a festive atmosphere around the world each year. The bright and twinkling decorations, adorning homes, trees, and yards, have become one of the most recognizable symbols around this time of year. The origins of this holiday tradition can be found in 19th century England. At the time, Christmas tree decorations were comprised mainly of candles, due to a lack of decorative resources. By the late 19th century, Christmas trees began to be decorated with electric lights and bulbs. In the late 1930s, when General Electric began to mass produce lights for trees, the popularity of these decorations skyrocketed. By the 1970s electric lights were so common that they were virtually synonymous with Christmas decorations. Today, Christmas lights are more vibrant and diverse than ever. From flashing lights to strings of colorful bulbs, there is now a huge array of options to choose from. People go to great lengths to make their houses look more festive. The changing lights have become such a popular feature of the holiday season that many towns and cities even host festivals and events to show off the most imaginative designs. The unique and dazzling displays are sure to bring smiles to faces all around the world in the upcoming holiday season.