Money, Yes. Brains, Not So Much

A California family gives us an object lesson as to why the old tradition of putting candles on Christmas trees was discontinued when electric tree lights were invented. They decided to follow the old tradition.

And gutted their house, causing $2.3 million in damage.

Firefighters said a blaze that ripped through the family's luxury residence in Newport Beach, south of Los Angeles, was caused after candles placed on a Christmas tree ignited branches.

No one was injured in the fire, but the family's newly remodelled 3,600-square-foot (330-square-meter) home was effectively gutted by the flames, Newport Beach fire chief Paul Matheis said.

The family were following a Scandinavian tradition by placing lighted candles on the tree*, Matheis said.

(*In many places, this is known as "kindling".) May we suggest a few sets of these? NFPA report on Christmas tree fires here. A handy fact sheet here.