A Light in the Window
By
Gerry Niskern
Yesterday, a granddaughter was telling me about her family’s tradition of driving around on Christmas eve to look at the beautifully decorated homes in some parts of our valley. And I was remembering the many drives that Ken and I took, including some Senior guests, who’s driving days were over, to enjoy the Christmas lights.
Actually, going way back, I remember piling into my Dad’s Plymouth to drive to a small city nearby to where the “rich people” lived. That was one treat of the season. The area where the owners of the coal mine and steel mills lived always had fantastic decorated homes . My favorite mansion I always looked for, was one done all in blue.
There is something about light that has always brought cheer to the soul. Back in the l7th century people in Germany started putting lighted candles on their tree. The tradition spread from there and to many the lights symbolized the Christmas star.
Then in l882, Edward Johnson, Edison’s partner, put the very first string of 80 electric Christmas lights together. The red, white and blue lights on his tree made quite a stir, but the public was not ready to trust electric illumination for quite some time. Then a couple of the presidents encouraged lighting up the White House and in the twenties and thirties it became more popular with the public.
When I was a kid, during the depression, most people had some artificial Christmas wreaths to display in their windows. And if you were really lucky, yours had a candle resting on the bottom with a bulb that lite up for the “flame”. My sister and I thought our house looked grand with our lights in every window!
When picture windows became popular In the fifties and sixties families started placing their tree in front of the window. Of course, after that, it was “Katy bar the door!” Lighting up your house and the yard outside became competitive!
After spending last Holiday season in isolation as most of us did, this Christmas was supposed to be different but it is turning out to be iffy for many. So thank goodness for those ambitious souls who light up a “thousand stars” for all of us to enjoy.
Treasure the tradition and the lights!