Christmas and New Year's garlands: tradition and modernity Christmas and New Year's garlands are not just decoration. They are a complex technological and cultural phenomenon that has evolved from a magical ritual to a high-tech element of lighting design. Their history reflects the development of electrical engineering, changes in aesthetic perceptions, and the psychological need of humans for light during the darkest time of the year. Historical origins: from fire to electricity The roots of the tradition date back to ancient times, associated with the cult of the sun and the winter solstice. To help the "reviving" sun, people lit bonfires, candles, torches. In particular, the Germanic peoples had the custom of decorating their homes and trees with burning candles. The turning point came in the era of electrification: The first electric garland (1882). Its creator was Edward Johnson, a partner of Thomas Edison. He manually assembled 80 red, white, and blue electric bulbs and decorated them on a Christmas tree in his New York home. The garland rotated, changing color. This was an expensive and dangerous (due to the imperfection of the wiring) attraction for the wealthy. Democratization and safety. In 1903, the General Electric company began selling ready-made sets of garlands. The key invention was the creation of "fake" or "Christmas" bulbs in 1919 — they had a thinner filament, worked at reduced voltage, and were safer to touch. However, they were still expensive: in the 1920s, a set of garlands cost as much as a modern television. Soviet tradition. Mass production of electric garlands ("Christmas garlands") began in the post-war period in the USSR. The classic "Spark" garland with multi-color incandescent bulbs in plastic diffusers became a cult object of nostalgia. Its schematics were simple (sequential connection of lamps), and repair (replacement of a burned-out lamp) was a family ritual. Scientific aspect: light as a regulator of psychophysiological state Th ... Read more