The Most Show-Stopping Christmas Light Shows Across America

"Elaborately decorated pine trees, carols and festive music, scents of spices like cinnamon and cloves, gently drifting snowflakes, and, of course, eggnog, all make for a magical Christmas ambiance, but it's those twinkling, colorful lights that add the finishing touch. This tradition began in medieval Germany with the Yule log. Later, candles were used in England to ceremonially mark the arrival of the season."

"However, it was Thomas Edison who showcased the world's first electric festive illuminations outside his lab almost a century and a half ago. A couple of years later, Edward H. Johnson was decorating spinning trees with colorful electric bulbs, but these festive lights took some time to catch on with the general public, which was mostly due to their cost."

"Nowadays, it's a different story. Around 150 million sets are sold in the U.S. alone, and millions of those go toward the countless light shows across the country. You can now see elaborate displays everywhere during the holiday season. Cities, towns, and villages put on extravagant shows in markets, parks, and squares - even entire city neighborhoods join in on the festivities. Visiting these shows has become something of an annual family tradition."

Decorative lighting for winter holidays evolved from medieval Yule log fires to candles in England and to electric lights in the late 19th century. Thomas Edison showcased the first electric festive illuminations outside his lab, and Edward H. Johnson later decorated spinning trees with colorful electric bulbs, though cost delayed public adoption. Today around 150 million sets are sold annually in the U.S., powering countless elaborate displays nationwide. Cities, towns, markets, parks, and neighborhoods stage extravagant shows that have become annual family traditions. Curated selections identify ten of the best U.S. Christmas light displays for visitors seeking notable holiday spectacles.

Read at Yahoo Life