In this Virtually Rick, we illuminate the dark history of Christmas lights. So, put on your mittens and UGG boots and come with me —let’s get virtual!

It’s hard to believe, but over 150 million sets of Christmas lights are sold each year in the United States. The electricity we use to power those lights in the month of December alone is more than El Salvador uses in a year. I think it’s safe to say, we’re addicted.

MORE HOLIDAY STORIES:

So where did it all “blinking"well begin?

From Pagan rituals celebrating the return of the sun after the longest, darkest nights of December; the tradition of lighting small candles on a Christmas tree around 1690 in Germany, or burning candles in your home’s windows as a way to celebrate and share your faith — it may even have come from 16th-century priest and reformer Martin Luther, who was said to have started the craze after being entranced by stars shining through the branches of evergreens in a forest.

Either way the Christmas tree certainly fueled our passion for the twinkly lights as the desire to have a tree indoors spread from Germany to England, and through emigration to Australia and America. 

Thomas Edison and Edward Johnson’s created expensive colored, blinking lights in the 1880s. But electric Christmas lights didn’t really become affordable for everyone to use until a tragic accident in 1917, when a blaze caused by a candlelit tree inspired a teenager, Albert Sadacca, to build the company that became NOMA; manufacturing electric Christmas tree lights that took off in a major way.

And thus, our massive obsession with the twinkly lights began.

That still hasn’t prevented us getting into mischief with around 13,000 people across the country being treated in emergency rooms for injuries and about $16 million in property loss thanks to holiday lights. Not to mention that just untangling them is ground zero for many family arguments each year.

And then we toss away the ones we don’t use. Every year used Christmas lights arrive in Shijiao, China, around 20 million pounds of them. That’s the weight of three Saturn 5 Rockets! In China, they’re recycled into everything, including the soles for your slippers. 

But whatever you make of these magical, twinkly things — we call them 'fairy lights' in England by the way — our hunger for these mood enhancing and home beautifying lights will continue to entrance us for years to come. Just so long as they stay working!