Arboretum lights make spirits bright!

What do holiday lights mean to you? There can be many meanings of lights. Maybe they mean fun times or new beginnings or perhaps lights have other meanings for you.

On the weekend, we were at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chaska at their Making Spirits Bright holiday lighting display. We saw beautiful lights both inside and outside. There’s also a twenty-four- foot poinsettia tree made from 525 poinsettias. If you’re hungry, there are plenty of goodies. The event at the Arboretum is a wonderful place to help make your spirits bright. That got us thinking about the history of holiday lights and what lights mean to people.

It is widely-believed that, in the 16th century, Martin Luther created the first Christmas tree with lights. He saw stars twinkling through the trees and brought an evergreen tree into his home and wired candles on boughs to try to get that same twinkling effect. The idea became popular in Germany, then throughout Europe and eventually came to the United States.

The biggest problem was that candles used as lights in evergreens were a potential fire hazard. That was solved when Thomas Edison invented the first viable light bulb in 1879 and in 1882, an associate of Edison, Edward Johnson, created the first electrically-illuminated Christmas tree. The bulbs were walnut-sized and colored red, white and blue. Now lights adorn businesses, homes and buildings – both inside and out.

Lights became popular and people gained memories associated with lights. We’ll share some memories about what Christmas lights mean to us.

I (Lynn) have a bitter-sweet memory. My mother was quite ill and I remember sitting alone all night at her bedside in her hospital room. I looked out the window of that room to see the multi-colored Christmas lights on the homes across the street. The lights raised my spirits with their twinkling in the frosty night. They brought me so much joy and peace with memories of times passed that I could take with me. Also, they signaled that life goes on, and Mom’s spirit and love would live on.

When I (Doug) see Christmas lights they instantly make me feel 8 years old again. As a child, I remember it always being an exciting time when my parents would get a real Christmas tree and we would decorate it. I was particularly fascinated by the bubble lights that were shaped like clear candles in different colors with bubbles continually going up inside the candle. We turned off the other lights in the room to just sit in the soft glow and relax watching the bubble lights.

We just shared a couple of our memories associated with Christmas lights and we wanted to ask some other people about their thoughts on holiday lights.

We met Kari and Scott Werdahl who told us what holiday lights mean to them. Kari said, “I’m an elementary music teacher and we used to do a song called, Holiday Lights, Shining So Bright, so for me this is the beginning of the hallmark lights here in Chaska.” Scott shared, “For me, light signifies the birth of warmth and love of the season for all people of all faiths and it continues all the way for the winter and into the spring. I love the lights and what it celebrates.” Then we asked Scott and Kari how often they come to the Arboretum. Scott said, “We live a mile south of the Arboretum and we come here for walks 2 or 3 times a week. The beginning of the winter season, we come here to snowshoe and walk. We enjoy both the inside and the outside of the Arboretum facilities. We just love it!” Kari added, “I love the snowshoeing. He’d rather go faster on the skis but I love the quietness of the snowshoes.” We thanked Scott and Kari for sharing with us about holiday lights and their experience with the Arboretum.

What about you? What do you want to do to have good memories of holiday lights?

Here are some ideas: Have lots of twinkling lights around you and continue them through the winter, especially if you are one of the many people who are not fond of the lower light during the darker seasons. Colored lights are joyful for the holidays and white lights are in style all year long. Also, visit the Arboretum anytime but especially on the weekends during the holiday season to experience the Making Spirits Bright light displays. Doing so can help to make your spirits bright! Please share with us what holiday lights mean to you.

Chanhassen residents Doug and Lynn Nodland are Success Coaches and owners of The Balance Center. They can be contacted at WeCare@SharingLifesLessons.com

© Doug and Lynn Nodland 2018 Articles and videos may be shared in their entirety with attribution.