A prime centerpiece during the Holidays is the Christmas tree. Songs have been written about it, and presents are placed beneath it. This icon is always a source of joy and inspiration for many, and it often signifies the beginning of the Holidays.
The modern Christmas tree first originated in Germany, but long before that, evergreen plants already had a special meaning. These plants symbolized the triumph of life over death. Starting in the 16th Century, German families started adopting these decorated trees. Traditionally, the Christmas lights on the tree were real candles, which were conceptualized by the Protestant-reformer, Martin Luther. However, the Christmas tree wasn’t introduced in the US until the 1830s, when a German community displayed one in Pennsylvania. The Christmas tree quickly became controversial in America though and was seen as a pagan symbol. In some places, it even got outlawed. This changed over time though, with the Christmas tree being adopted into the culture due to Queen Victoria standing around a Christmas tree with her family. This beloved Queen quickly spread the trend across Great Britain, but also to the fashion-conscious East Coast.
Nowadays, it takes around six to eight years for the trees to mature, and there are a bunch of different types available (“History of Christmas Trees - Symbolism, Traditions & Trivia”). Once purchased, the trees last around five to six weeks, so it’s important to consider when to buy the tree. Traditionally, many families will decorate their tree for the first advent, which falls on November 29th, this year. Essentially, that means buying the Christmas tree somewhat earlier in the season, either about 26 or 22 days before Christmas is ideal (Joyner).
The final question is, should one get a real Christmas tree or a fake one? Well, considering environmental impacts, real Christmas trees are better. Artificial Christmas trees aren’t recyclable and usually end up in local landfills after often limited use. Additionally, 90% of the artificial Christmas trees sold each season are imported from China, creating more carbon emissions for transport (“Real vs. Fake—Which Christmas tree is better for the environment?”). In contrast, Christmas trees are planted in all 50 states, so there is no long import necessary (“History of Christmas Trees - Symbolism, Traditions & Trivia”). Real trees promote forests, and estimates show that out of the 350 – 500 million trees growing across the country each year, only 30 million are harvested annually. For every Christmas tree harvested and purchased, one to three new trees are planted later on (“Real vs. Fake—Which Christmas tree is better for the environment?”). During the six to eight years it takes for these trees to mature, trees go through extensive photosynthesis, pulling in carbon dioxide and converting that into other chemical compounds. One of the byproducts of this chemical reaction is the emission of oxygen, ultimately purifying our atmosphere (Stancil). However, the main misconception regarding real Christmas trees is that cutting down trees, in general, is bad, but that’s not true. Even in natural environments, cutting down trees can be beneficial in certain amounts. This is done to maintain the forest and is similar to controlled forest fires (“Real vs. Fake—Which Christmas tree is better for the environment?”). So, let’s all indulge in the amazing aromas of a real Christmas tree!
Hopefully, this was an informative piece that strengthened your love and appreciation for this wonderful tradition. Happy holidays to everyone celebrating!
Works Cited
“History of Christmas Trees - Symbolism, Traditions & Trivia.” History.com, 8 December 2021, www.history.com/topics/christmas/history-of-christmas-trees. Accessed 22 November 2022.
Joyner, Lisa. “This is When You Should Buy Your Real Christmas Tree in 2022.” Country Living Magazine, 5 October 2022, www.countryliving.com/uk/homes-interiors/a34801889/buy- real-christmas-tree/. Accessed 23 November 2022.
“Real vs. Fake—Which Christmas tree is better for the environment?” The Nature Conservancy, 2 December 2019, www.nature.org/en-us/what-we-do/our-priorities/protect-water-and- land/land-and-water-stories/real-vs-fake-christmas-tree/. Accessed 23 November 2022.
Stancil, Joanna Mounce. “The Power of One Tree - The Very Air We Breathe.” USDA, 3 June 2019, www.usda.gov/media/blog/2015/03/17/power-one-tree-very-air-we-breathe. Accessed 23 November 2022.
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