Norman Lamps, Inc.

Christmas and holiday lighting encompasses the decorative bulbs, string lights, and specialized illumination products that transform homes, businesses, and public spaces during holiday seasons. From traditional incandescent mini-lights strung on Christmas trees to elaborate LED displays covering entire building facades, holiday lighting has evolved from simple colored bulbs to sophisticated programmable systems while remaining one of the most beloved seasonal traditions. The variety is enormous – something to fit every style, budget, and installation from simple to spectacular.

Traditional incandescent mini-lights remain popular for their warm glow, nostalgic appearance, and low upfront cost. These small bulbs (typically C7 or C9 size for larger displays, or miniature T1.5 bulbs for tree lights) connect in series strings of 50-100 lights, creating the classic Christmas light appearance. Available in clear/warm white, multi-color, all-blue, all-red, and various color combinations, incandescent holiday lights work in applications from trees to garland, wreaths to roof lines, bushes to fences. The warm glow and slight flicker from AC power create that traditional holiday ambiance many people love.

LED holiday lights have become dominant in the market due to compelling advantages: 90% less energy consumption (important when running hundreds or thousands of bulbs), cool operation that won't dry out live trees or create fire hazards, extreme durability with no filaments to break, and 50,000+ hour lifespans that can last 20-30+ years of seasonal use. LED holiday lights are available in the same color options as incandescent plus expanded choices like color-changing, programmable, and special effects. The crisp, bright colors of LEDs create modern, eye-catching displays. Energy savings become substantial with large displays – a 5,000-bulb LED display might use 250-400 watts versus 2,000-3,000 watts for equivalent incandescent.

Net lights create uniform coverage on bushes, hedges, and building facades by arranging bulbs in a grid pattern within netting. You simply drape the net over the area you want to cover, and the pre-spaced bulbs provide even illumination without the frustration of wrapping individual strings. Available in various mesh sizes (typically 4'x6' or 5'x7') in both incandescent and LED, net lights drastically simplify installation and storage for certain applications. They're particularly popular for commercial installations where labor costs make quick installation valuable.

Icicle lights mimic icicles hanging from rooflines with vertical strands of varying lengths dropping from a horizontal string. The effect is winter-themed and works well on houses, buildings, and covered structures. LED icicle lights often include features like fading, twinkling, or chasing effects controlled by built-in electronics. Available in clear/white (most popular for icicle applications) or colors, these lights create distinctive displays that clearly outline rooflines and architectural features.

Rope lights and tube lights create continuous glowing lines ideal for outlining architectural features, windows, doorways, and creating shapes and designs. LED rope light has become the standard, offering flexibility, easy installation, and the ability to cut to specific lengths at designated cut points. Unlike earlier rope lights with individual bulbs creating a dotted appearance, modern LED rope lights provide nearly continuous glow. Mounting channels and clips simplify installation and create professional-looking results.

Specialty holiday lighting includes animated displays (LED figures and scenes with programmed movement effects), projection lights (project moving patterns onto building facades), meteor lights (creating falling rain effects), curtain lights (creating light curtains for windows or walls), and countless other creative variations. Smart holiday lights with WiFi or Bluetooth control allow app-based programming, color changes, effects, timers, and integration with smart home systems. These advanced options create sophisticated displays that would have required professional installation a decade ago.

Safety considerations include using outdoor-rated lights for exterior applications (check for proper IP ratings), ensuring proper electrical capacity (multiple strings create substantial loads on circuits), using GFCI-protected outlets for outdoor lights, following manufacturer guidelines on maximum strings that can be connected end-to-end, and inspecting lights annually for damage before use. LED lights greatly reduce fire risks through cool operation, but all holiday lighting requires proper installation and maintenance.

Common Types: Mini-lights (strings), C7/C9 bulbs (larger decorative), LED strings (various sizes), net lights, icicle lights, rope/tube lights, animated displays, specialty and novelty lights

Technologies: Traditional incandescent (warm glow, low cost), LED (90% energy savings, long life, durability), smart/programmable (WiFi, Bluetooth control)

Color Options: Clear/warm white, multi-color, single colors (red, blue, green, etc.), color-changing (programmable), various specialty effects