Bubble Light

Of all the enduring traditions of Christmas, none is more effervescent and lively than the bubble lights. Everyone's earliest memories recall those of Christmases past, and for many parents and even grandparents of a certain era, one of their fondest glimpses of childhood is of the brightly colored tubes of glass, bubbling merrily over the glowing bulbs of holiday joy. Bubble lights are as essential as Grandma's kiss or the ornament you made for mother in kindergarten.

Bubble lights are truly a dear memory, reaching the peak of their popularity in years of the 1940s to the 1970s, when they were replaced in the popular affection by the tiny "fairy" lights we know today. Basically a liquid filled vial, usually methylene chloride or a light oil with a low boiling point, which was affixed over a small incandescent bulb, hidden in a "bowl" or "cap" of colorful plastic.

The bulb's heat would set the liquid bubbling in a mesmerizing pod of holiday wonder, that could only leave the youngsters anticipating their revival along with Santa Claus the next Noel. Even the youngest was warned they would not work if not kept upright and Grandpa could always be counted on to deliver the perfect snap to get the bubble light going again.

You can still purchase bubble lights in the better Christmas emporiums, with one of the more recent innovations being to add glitter to the bubbly mix. However, if you insist on the genuine article, classic NOMA bubble bulbs from the Fifties can still be had on eBay, but be prepared to shell out at least $75 for just the bulbs, $150 and up with the original box included. While the bubble lights themselves are safe, the old cords may not be up to current electrical codes, and should not be left unattended.

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