History of Electricity and Thanksgiving
7016309225 • November 17, 2025
⚡ The History of Electricity and Thanksgiving: How Far We’ve Come 🍂💡
Thanksgiving today is a warm, cozy holiday filled with good food, family, and football. But imagine trying to pull off your Turkey Day traditions without electricity—no oven, no lights, no parade on TV, no fridge full of leftovers!
Electricity plays a huge part in how we celebrate Thanksgiving now, and it’s easy to forget that it wasn’t always this way. Let’s take a little journey through history to see how far we’ve come—and how power has changed the way we celebrate the season.
🕯️ Before the Flip of a Switch: Thanksgiving in the 1800s
When Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863, most homes relied on oil lamps, wood stoves, and hand-powered kitchen tools. Cooking a full Thanksgiving meal meant:
- Chopping wood for fuel
- Baking pies in cast iron ovens
- Storing perishables in iceboxes, not refrigerators
- Lighting the dinner table with candles or gas lanterns
- There were no electric carving knives, no slow cookers, and certainly no "smart ovens."
⚡ The Spark of Modern Comfort: Electricity Enters the Scene
Electric power began lighting up American homes in the late 1800s, but it wasn’t until the 1920s–30s that electricity started becoming more common in middle-class homes—just in time to revolutionize the Thanksgiving experience.
- Electric ovens made cooking faster and more precise
- Refrigerators extended food storage
- Electric lighting meant more family and guests could gather late into the evening
- Radios and, later, televisions brought entertainment to the holiday table
Fun Fact:
The first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with a television broadcast aired in 1948—and it’s been a Thanksgiving staple ever since!
🦃 Thanksgiving in the Age of Smart Homes
Fast forward to today, and we’re cooking turkeys with Wi-Fi ovens, setting timers with smart speakers, and managing the entire meal with a phone app. Modern Thanksgiving might include:
- Programmable smart thermostats to keep guests comfortable
- LED holiday lights that save energy and reduce fire risk
- Backup generators ensuring nothing interrupts the big meal
- EV chargers for guests arriving in electric vehicles
- Watching the game in 4K while the robot vacuum cleans up crumbs
💡 We’re Thankful for Progress—and for You
We’re grateful for the modern power that keeps our homes safe, warm, and full of life—especially around the holidays. And we’re even more thankful for the customers and community who trust us to keep that power flowing year-round.
Whether you're upgrading your kitchen, installing smart devices, or making sure your panel is ready for holiday guests, we’re here to help.
Contact us
for a pre-holiday electrical inspection or service—so your Thanksgiving can be powered by peace of mind.
Wishing you a bright, warm, and happy Thanksgiving from all of us at KrisLee Electric! 🦃
Commercial electricians perform detailed evaluations of energy use across systems to identify saving opportunities.
Every time a circuit breaker trips in your home, it’s doing something incredibly important—protecting you and your electrical system from danger. But have you ever wondered where these little safety devices came from, or how we protected homes before they existed? Here’s a quick look at the evolution of electrical breakers, and why they’re one of the most important inventions in modern electrical safety. ⚙️ Before Breakers: The Age of Fuses (Late 1800s – Early 1900s) Before circuit breakers became common, homes used fuses to prevent electrical overloads. A fuse contains a thin wire that melts when too much current flows through it, stopping the circuit. The problem? Once a fuse blows, it has to be replaced—every single time. Fuses worked, but they were: Inconvenient Easy to install incorrectly Prone to over-fusing (dangerously replacing with a higher-rated fuse) ⚡ Enter the Breaker: Early 20th Century Innovation The concept of the resettable circuit breaker emerged in the early 1900s, offering a reusable, more reliable solution. The first patent for a circuit breaker came in 1924 by Hugo Stotz (working with Siemens), whose design used a bimetallic strip to detect overcurrent. Breakers gained popularity throughout the 1930s–50s, especially in industrial and commercial buildings. Why they caught on: Could be reset instead of replaced More precise at detecting electrical faults Better suited for growing electrical demands 🏠 Breakers in the Modern Home (1960s–Present) By the 1960s and 70s, circuit breakers became the standard in new residential construction across the U.S. and many parts of the world, replacing fuse boxes entirely. Modern home panels include: Standard breakers – for basic overcurrent protection GFCI breakers – to protect against shock (especially near water) AFCI breakers – to prevent electrical fires from arc faults Dual-function breakers – offering both GFCI and AFCI protection These advanced breakers are required by modern electrical codes in many areas, and they’ve drastically reduced electrical fires and injuries. 🔌 Why Breakers Matter More Than Ever Today’s homes use far more electricity than they did 50 years ago. With more appliances, electronics, EV chargers, and smart tech, the demand on your electrical panel is greater than ever. Circuit breakers are the unsung heroes, silently monitoring every circuit to: Prevent overloads Stop short circuits Protect people and property 🧑🔧 Should You Upgrade Your Breaker Panel? If your home still has an old fuse box or outdated breaker panel, it might be time for an upgrade—especially if you’re: Experiencing frequent tripped breakers (check out our blog about troubleshooting electrical circuit tripping ) Adding new appliances or renovations Living in a home over 30–40 years old Find you need to upgrade your panel? Give us a call and we can give you a free estimate to upgrade your electrical panel
Noticing your lights flickering lately? Whether it's just a quick blink or a persistent issue, flickering lights aren't something to ignore. While some causes are harmless, others can be a sign of a much bigger electrical problem lurking behind your walls. We believe in addressing electrical issues early—before they turn into safety hazards. Here’s what flickering lights could mean, and when it’s time to call in a professional: ⚠️ Loose or Faulty Bulbs Let’s start simple. Sometimes, flickering is just a matter of: A loose bulb in the socket An incompatible bulb, especially with dimmer switches A bad connection between the bulb and socket contacts 🛠️ Try turning the bulb off, tightening it, or replacing it with a fresh one. If the problem stops—great! If not, keep reading. ⚡Overloaded Circuits Do your lights dim or flicker when you run the microwave, HVAC system, or vacuum cleaner? This could mean: A circuit is overloaded and struggling to supply enough power Your electrical panel may be undersized or outdated for your current energy needs ⚡ Solution: An electrician can evaluate your system and recommend upgrades, such as a panel replacement or circuit expansion. 🔌Faulty Switches or Loose Wiring Flickering in a single fixture—especially when touched or adjusted—may point to: A loose connection in the light switch Frayed or deteriorating wires behind the wall A faulty fixture that’s wearing out 🔥 Loose wires can generate heat and even lead to electrical fires—don’t delay an inspection if this sounds familiar. 🏡 Whole-House Flickering Lights flickering throughout your home? This could signal: Issues with your electrical panel or main service line A failing main breaker Problems with the utility company’s supply line This is a more serious issue that requires a licensed electrician’s immediate attention. ⚠️ Never ignore widespread flickering—it’s often a sign of a potentially dangerous voltage problem. 🌩️Power Grid Fluctuations or Storm Impact Sometimes flickering comes from outside your home. Storms, power line damage, or utility equipment issues can all cause fluctuations in your service. We have a blog about how to set your house up for stormy weather. Check it out here ! While these may resolve on their own, frequent or prolonged issues should still be evaluated to protect sensitive electronics and ensure safety. 🧑🔧 When to Call a Pro If flickering lights happen often, are unpredictable, or are accompanied by: Burning smells Buzzing from outlets or panels Warm switches or outlets Tripping breakers 👉 It’s time to call a licensed electrician.
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