Retro Holiday Light Magic

It's that most wonderful time of the year—and from small towns to big cities, people are hauling out their ladders and lights, and decorating their homes for the holidays.

One of the most delightful holiday traditions is getting together with friends and family, and strolling through neighborhoods where we can 'ooh' and 'aah' over all of the marvelous light displays.

The real fun begins when night falls, and we bundle up and venture out, warmed by mugs of hot chocolate. Neighbors gather in front of a beautiful home where a thousand scintillating snowflakes are projected. A few doors down, high-tech lights installed on towering pine trees blink, flash, and swirl in colorful sequences, conjuring a modern-day wonderland.

But the home where we linger the longest is simply outlined in the soft glow of old-fashioned lights, with a holiday tree decorated with vintage bubble lights framed in the front window. It's an enchanted vision, one that seems to transport us to the holidays of long ago.

Let's bring back a bit of that nostalgic glow, and enjoy it today. Here's how.

Noma Bubble Lite Set
Dating back to 1946, when they were first introduced by the Noma company, bubble lights became one of the most magical holiday ideas ever created. Each bulb contains its own liquid-filled light tube that bubbles as it heats up, and the sight of a tree decorated with these effervescent extravaganzas is truly mesmerizing.

A special edition Noma Bubble Lite Set replicates the original look using the classic red and green two-tone plastic base, with seven candelabra bulbs in red and yellow, for a six-foot total lighted length.

Ice-Glo Lights
Ice-Glo Lights are another great option—a high-style decorator look that happily is making a comeback. Originally, the colors leaned towards '60s pastel pinks, yellows, and blues in a 'lighted ice' bulb that was frosted with crystals.

This year, the folks at the Vermont Country Store are offering these exclusive Ice-Glo Lights, also known as Snowballs. “When you turn the lights down, your tree will shimmer with a cool and colorful iridescent glow,” their online catalog reads.

Ice-Glo Lights burn cool, and can be used on fresh or faux trees. Available in four jewel tones: red, yellow, blue, or green. Seven lights to a string, on a nine-foot cord. A white Ice-Glo string is also available.