Artificial sunshine is still the leading light in Blackpool

September 18 1879.

It’s got nothing to do with climate change, but this week we can celebrate 140 years of artificial sunshine.

That’s how they described the Blackpool Illuminations when Britain first enjoyed them in 1879.

At that time, the seaside town was lit up by just eight carbon arc lamps along the Promenade, but it caused a sensation nonetheless.

A full year ahead of Thomas Edison’s patent for his electric lightbulb, the news spread far beyond Lancashire.

It would be 1912 before we got the first display that looked more like the one we enjoy today, and that one was done to mark the first Blackpool visit of the royal family.

Princess Louise opened a new part of the promenade, and by then they had about 10,000 lightbulbs.

The whole thing went so well that it has long been an annual event, although the First World War obviously saw a hiatus for a few years.

It was interrupted again the second time the world went to war, and even after 1945 things were so tight financially that it would be 1949 before it came back.

Also known simply as The Lights or The Illuminations, they would continue to bring Blackpool prom strollers some much-needed extra light after the summer had faded, staying on for 66 days.

Six years back, when they were supposed to remain lit from August 30 to November 3, it was decided to extend the whole thing by another week.

For the first time, The Illuminations ran for 73 days, and they repeated that the next year.

The year 2015 saw a return to 66 days, meaning this year’s fun will come to an end on November 3 once more.

Those late Victorians would doubtless also approve of the Festival of Light which is run in conjunction with the main event these days.

A “fusion of art and light events and installations”, this sees various displays by artists and Fylde College.

A Donkey Fest on the North Shore cliffs was one such fun-filled event, as was the UK’s first Illuminated Art Car Parade.

The Blackpool Christmas Lights, of course, appear pretty much as soon as The Illuminations are over, so if you turn up a bit late you should still find some amazing light spectaculars to enjoy.

France is one of several nations who put on multiple very impressive light shows, but theirs are mostly done in the summer evenings and consists of bouncing light off famous buildings.

Anyone who has wandered around Christmas markets in Germany will appreciate their use of light, too, but Blackpool continues to light the way at this time of the year.