eChristmasTrees

Christmas trees have been around for a long time, and over the years there have been a lot of trends that have come and gone. Tree styles have changed, with different construction materials like aluminum and feathers being introduced, and ornaments and lights have also changed over time, with certain types becoming very popular and then waning over time. Right now, the traditional look is very much in style, with many people opting for stately evergreens loaded with white lights and lots of ball and icicle style ornaments. But this hasn’t always been the case, and certain styles from decades of the past are making a resurgence. One of these is the bubble light, which was the new and vogue way to light your Christmas tree in the 1940s and 50s. If you want to give your tree a fun, retro look this year, then bubble lights are the way to go.



Bubble lights are aptly named for a couple of reasons. First, the light itself resembles the mini Christmas lights of today, with a candle shaped stem and a pointy tip. The stem portion, though, is set into a bubble-like base that holds a liquid, usually methylene chloride. This liquid boils at a low temperature, and when the heat from the light warms it, bubbles rise through the light, giving the name even more accuracy. These lights were invented in the 1920s, but became popular as Christmas lights during the 1940s, with the demand for them finally wearing off in the 1970s. In the decades since, mini Christmas lights, or fairy bulbs as they’re sometimes called, have been the most popular choice for Christmas trees.

Just because the mini lights are popular, however, doesn’t mean that’s what you have to do. If you’re looking for something a bit different this year, then bubble lights provide a unique and beautiful way to bring a bit of the past into the present. Go for a retro flair this year by adorning your tree with bubble lights, and be charmed by the sparkling lights and the bubbles softly rising along the light. You might be surprised at the heartwarming memories they stir within. You can get these lights at lots of places, including hardware stores, big box retailers, Christmas specialty stores, and through online retailers. The traditional look may be what many people are going for, but that’s not to say that retro doesn’t have its place right now as well.

Vintage bubble lights will evoke a feeling of the good ol’ days, when things were easier and the pace was slower. During the holidays, this can be an especially welcome feeling, with all the rushing and mad dashing and stress that can come with the season as well. Bring back the memories of the past with these warm and bubbling lights and recall the days of yore…or if you can’t remember a time when bubble lights shone on every tree, then just enjoy them for what they are: a unique, beautiful decoration with a decidedly retro flair.