Christmas tree

AChristmas treeis a decorated tree, usually anevergreenconifer, such as aspruce,pineorfir, associated with the celebration ofChristmas.It may also consist of an artificial tree of similar appearance.
The custom was developed inCentral Europe, particularlyGermanyandLivonia(nowEstoniaandLatvia), whereProtestant Christiansbrought decorated trees into their homes.The tree was traditionally decorated with "roses made of colored paper,tinsel,apples,wafers, andconfectionery".Moravian Christiansbegan to illuminate Christmas trees with candles,which were often replaced byChristmas lightsafter the advent ofelectrification.Today, there is a wide variety oftraditional and modern ornaments, such asgarlands,baubles,tinsel, andcandy canes. An angel or star might beplaced at the top of the treeto represent theAngelGabrielor theStar of Bethlehem, respectively, from theNativity.Edible items such asgingerbread,chocolate, and other sweets are also popular and are tied to or hung from the tree's branches with ribbons. The Christmas tree has been historically regarded as a custom of theLutheran Churchesand only in 1982 did theCatholic Churcherect theVatican Christmas Tree.
In theWestern Christiantradition, Christmas trees are variously erected on days such as thefirst day of Advent, or even as late asChristmas Eve, depending on the country;customs of the same faith hold that it is unlucky to remove Christmas decorations, such as the Christmas tree, beforeTwelfth Nightand, if they are not taken down on that day, it is appropriate to do so onCandlemas, the latter of which ends theChristmas-Epiphany seasonin somedenominations.
The Christmas tree is sometimes compared with the "Yule-tree", especially in discussions of its folkloric origins.Mount Ingino Christmas TreeinGubbio, Italy, is the tallest Christmas tree in the world.
Modern Christmas trees originated inCentral Europeand theBaltic states, particularlyEstonia,GermanyandLivonia(nowLatvia) during theRenaissancein early modern Europe.Its 16th-century origins are sometimes associated with Protestant Christian reformerMartin Luther, who is said to have first added lighted candles to an evergreen tree.The Christmas tree was first recorded to be used by German Lutherans in the 16th century, with records indicating that a Christmas tree was placed in theCathedral of Strasbourgin 1539 under the leadership of theProtestant ReformerMartin Bucer.TheMoravian Christiansput lighted candles on those trees."The earliest known firmly dated representation of a Christmas tree is on the keystone sculpture of a private home inTurckheim, Alsace (then part of theHoly Roman Empire of the German Nation, today part of France), with the date 1576.
Modern Christmas trees have been related to the "tree of paradise" of medievalmystery playsthat were given on 24 December, the commemoration andname dayofAdam and Evein various countries. In such plays, a tree decorated with apples (representing fruit from thetree of the knowledge of good and eviland thus to the original sin that Christ took away) and round white wafers (to represent theEucharistand redemption) was used as a setting for the play.Like theChristmas crib, the Paradise tree was later placed in homes. The apples were replaced by round objects such as shiny redbaubles.
Fir trees decorated with apples served as the central prop for the paradise play, a kind of folk religious drama often performed on December 24. These props were called paradise trees, and some researchers believe they were the forerunners of the Christmas tree.
At the end of the Middle Ages, an early predecessor appears referred in the 15th century Regiment of theCistercianAlcobaça MonasteryinPortugal. The Regiment of the localhigh-Sacristansof the Cistercian Order refers to what may be considered the oldest references to the Christmas tree: "Note on how to put the Christmas branch,scilicet: On the Christmas eve, you will look for a large Branch of green laurel, and you shall reap many red oranges, and place them on the branches that come of the laurel, specifically as you have seen, and in every orange you shall put a candle, and hang the Branch by a rope in the pole, which shall be by the candle of the high altar."
Other sources have offered a connection between the symbolism of the first documented Christmas trees in Germany around 1600 and the trees of pre-Christian traditions. According to theEncyclopædia Britannica, "The use ofevergreen trees, wreaths, and garlands to symbolize eternal life was a custom of the ancientEgyptians,Chinese, andHebrews. Tree worship was common among the pagan Europeans and survived their conversion to Christianity in the Scandinavian customs of decorating the house and barn with evergreens at the New Year to scare away the devil and of setting up a tree for the birds during Christmas time."
It is commonly believed that ancientRomansused to decorate their houses with evergreen trees to celebrateSaturnalia.In the poemEpithalamiumbyCatullus, he tells of the gods decorating the home ofPeleuswith trees, including laurel and cypress. LaterLibanius,Tertullian, andChrysostomspeak of the use of evergreen trees to adorn Christian houses.
TheVikingsandSaxonsworshiped trees.The story ofSaint Bonifacecutting downDonar's Oakillustrates the pagan practices in 8th century among the Germans. A later folk version of the story adds the detail that an evergreen tree grew in place of the felled oak, telling them about how its triangular shape reminds humanity of theTrinityand how it points to heaven.
Customs of erecting decorated trees in winter time can be traced to Christmas celebrations in Renaissance-eraguildsinNorthern GermanyandLivonia. The first evidence of decorated trees associated with Christmas Day are trees in guildhalls decorated with sweets to be enjoyed by the apprentices and children. In Livonia (present-dayEstoniaandLatvia), in 1441, 1442, 1510, and 1514, theBrotherhood of Blackheadserected a tree for the holidays in their guild houses inReval(now Tallinn) andRiga. On the last night of the celebrations leading up to the holidays, the tree was taken to theTown Hall Square, where the members of the brotherhood danced around it.
ABremenguild chronicle of 1570 reports that a small tree decorated with "apples, nuts, dates, pretzels, and paper flowers" was erected in the guild-house for the benefit of the guild members' children, who collected the dainties on Christmas Day.In 1584, the pastor and chroniclerBalthasar Russowin hisChronica der Provinz Lyfflandt(1584) wrote of an established tradition of setting up a decoratedspruceat the market square, where the young men "went with a flock of maidens and women, first sang and danced there and then set the tree aflame".
After theProtestant Reformation, such trees are seen in the houses of upper-class Protestant families as a counterpart to the CatholicChristmas cribs. This transition from the guild hall to bourgeois family homes in the Protestant parts of Germany ultimately gives rise to the modern tradition as it developed in the 18th and 19th centuries. In the present-day, the churches and homes of Protestants and Catholics feature both Christmas cribs and Christmas trees.
InPoland, there is a folk tradition dating back to an oldSlavicpre-Christian custom of suspending a branch offir,spruce, orpinefrom the ceilingrafters, calledpodłaźniczka, during the time of theKoliadawinter festival.The branches were decorated with apples, nuts, acorns, and stars made of straw. In more recent times, the decorations also included colored paper cutouts (wycinanki),wafers,cookies, andChristmas baubles. According to old pagan beliefs, the powers of the branch were linked to good harvest and prosperity.
The custom was practiced by the peasants until the early 20th century, particularly in the regions ofLesser PolandandUpper Silesia.Most often the branches were hung above thewigiliadinner table onChristmas Eve. Beginning in the mid-19th century, the tradition over time was almost completely replaced by the later German practice of decorating a standing Christmas tree.
In the early 19th century, the custom became popular among the nobility and spread to royal courts as far as Russia. Introduced byFanny von Arnsteinand popularized byPrincess Henrietta of Nassau-Weilburg, the Christmas tree reachedViennain 1814, during theCongress of Vienna, and the custom spread across Austria in the following years.InFrance, the first Christmas tree was introduced in 1840 by theduchesse d'Orléans. In Denmark, a newspaper company claims that the first attested Christmas tree was lit in 1808 by Countess Wilhemine of Holsteinborg. It was the aging countess who told the story of the first Danish Christmas tree to Danish writerHans Christian Andersenin 1865. He had published a fairy tale calledThe Fir-Treein 1844, recounting the fate of a fir tree being used as a Christmas tree.
By the early 18th century, the custom had become common in towns of the upper Rhineland, but it had not yet spread to rural areas. Wax candles, expensive items at the time, are found in attestations from the late 18th century.
Along theLower Rhine, an area of Roman Catholic majority, the Christmas tree was largely regarded as a Protestant custom. As a result, it remained confined to the upper Rhineland for a relatively long period of time. The custom did eventually gain wider acceptance beginning around 1815 by way ofPrussianofficials who emigrated there following theCongress of Vienna.
In the 19th century, the Christmas tree was taken to be an expression ofGerman cultureand ofGemütlichkeit, especially among emigrants overseas.
A decisive factor in winning general popularity was the German army's decision to place Christmas trees in its barracks and military hospitals during theFranco-Prussian War. Only at the start of the 20th century did Christmas trees appear inside churches, this time in a new brightly lit form.
Early Slovenian custom, dating back to around the 17th century, was to suspend the tree either upright or upside-down above the well, a corner of the dinner table, in the backyard, or from the fences, modestly decorated with fruits or not decorated at all. German brewer Peter Luelsdorf brought the first Christmas tree of the current tradition toSloveniain 1845. He set it up in his small breweryinninLjubljana, the Slovenian capital. German officials, craftsmen and merchants quickly spread the tradition among the bourgeois population. The trees were typically decorated withwalnuts, golden apples,carobs, and candles. At first, the Catholic majority rejected this custom because they considered it a typical Protestant tradition. However, this tradition was almost unknown to the rural population untilWorld War I, after which the decorating of trees became common. The first decorated Christmas market was organized in Ljubljana in 1859.
AfterWorld War II, during theYugoslaviaperiod, spruce trees set in the public places (towns, squares, and markets) were, for political reasons, replaced withfirtrees, a symbol ofsocialismandSlavic mythology, strongly associated with loyalty, courage, and dignity. However, spruce retained its popularity in Slovenian homes during those years and came back to public places after independence.
Christmas in Italybegins on 8 December with theFeast of the Immaculate Conception, the day on which traditionally Christmas trees are erected, and ends on 6 January of the following year withEpiphany.
The tradition of the Christmas tree was widely adopted in Italy during the 20th century despite its Germanic origins. It appears that the first Christmas tree in Italy was erected at theQuirinal Palacetowards the end of the 19th century at the behest ofQueen Margherita.
DuringFascism, this custom was opposed because it was considered to be an imitation of a foreign tradition, as opposed to the typically Italian nativity scene. In 1991, theGubbio Christmas Tree, 650 meters (2,130 ft) tall and decorated with over 700 lights, entered theGuinness Book of Recordsas the tallest Christmas tree in the world.
Although the tradition of decorating churches and homes with evergreens at Christmas was long established,the custom of decorating an entire small tree was unknown in Britain until the 19th century. The German-bornQueen Charlotteintroduced a Christmas tree at a party she gave for children in 1800.The custom did not at first spread much beyond the royal family.Queen Victoria, as a child, was familiar with it and a tree was placed in her room every Christmas. In her journal for Christmas Eve 1832, the delighted 13-year-old princess wrote:
In the year following Victoria's marriage to her German cousinPrince Albert, in 1841, the custom became even more widespreadas wealthier middle-class families followed the fashion. In 1842, a newspaper advertisement for Christmas trees makes clear their smart cachet, German origins and association with children and gift-giving.An illustrated book,The Christmas Tree, describing their use and origins in detail, was on sale in December 1844.
On 2January 1846, Elizabeth Fielding (née Fox Strangways) wrote fromLacock AbbeytoWilliam Henry Fox-Talbot: "Constance is extremely busy preparing theBohemianXmas Tree. It is made from Caroline'sdescription of those she saw in Germany".
In 1847, Prince Albert wrote: "I must now seek in the children an echo of whatErnest[his brother] and I were in the old time, of what we felt and thought; and their delight in the Christmas trees is not less than ours used to be".
A boost to the trend was given in 1848whenThe Illustrated London News,in a report picked up by other papers,described the trees inWindsor Castlein detail and showed the main tree, surrounded by the royal family, on its cover. In fewer than ten years, the adoption of the tradition in middle and upper-class homes was widespread. By 1856, a northern provincial newspaper contained an advert alluding casually to them,as well as reporting the accidental death of a woman whose dress caught fire as she lit the tapers on a Christmas tree.They had not yet spread down the social scale though, as a report from Berlin in 1858 contrasts the situation there where "Every family has its own" with that of Britain, where Christmas trees were still the preserve of the wealthy or the "romantic".
Their use at public entertainments, charity bazaars and in hospitals made them increasingly familiar however, and in 1906 a charity was set up specifically to ensure even poor children in London slums "who had never seen a Christmas tree" would enjoy one that year.Anti-German sentiment after World WarI briefly reduced their popularitybut the effect was short-lived,and by the mid-1920s the use of Christmas trees had spread to all classes.In 1933, a restriction on the importation of foreign trees led to the "rapid growth of a new industry" as the growing of Christmas trees within Britain became commercially viable due to the size of demand.By 2013, the number of trees grown in Britain for the Christmas market was approximately eight millionand their display in homes, shops and public spaces a normal part of the Christmas season.
Georgianshave their own traditional Christmas tree calledChichilaki, made from dried uphazelnutorwalnutbranches that are shaped to form a small coniferous tree.These pale-colored ornaments differ in height from 20 cm (7.9 in) to 3 meters (9.8 ft). Chichilakis are most common in theGuriaandSamegreloregions of Georgia near theBlack Sea, but they can also be found in some stores around the capital ofTbilisi.
Georgians believe that Chichilaki resembles the famous beard ofSt. Basil the Great, becauseEastern Orthodox Churchcommemorates St. Basil on 1 January.
The earliest reference of Christmas trees being used inThe Bahamasdates to January 1864 and is associated with theAnglicanSunday Schools inNassau, New Providence: "After prayers and a sermon from the Rev. R. Swann, the teachers and children of St. Agnes', accompanied by those of St. Mary's, marched to the Parsonage of Rev. J. H. Fisher, in front of which a large Christmas tree had been planted for their gratification. The delighted little ones formed a circle around it singing 'Come follow me to the Christmas tree.'"The gifts decorated the trees as ornaments and the children were given tickets with numbers that matched the gifts. This appears to be the typical way of decorating the trees in 1860s Bahamas. In the Christmas of 1864, there was a Christmas tree put up in the Ladies Saloon in the Royal Victoria Hotel for the respectable children of the neighbourhood. The tree was ornamented with gifts for the children who formed a circle about it and sang the song "Oats and Beans". The gifts were later given to the children in the name ofSanta Claus.
The tradition was introduced toNorth Americain the winter of 1781 byHessian soldiersstationed in theProvince of Québec (1763–1791)to garrison the colony againstAmerican attack. GeneralFriedrich Adolf Riedeseland his wife,the Baroness von Riedesel, held a Christmas party for the officers atSorel, Quebec, delighting their guests with a fir tree decorated with candles and fruits.
The Christmas tree became very common in the United States of America in the early 19th century. Dating from late 1812 or early 1813, the watercolor sketchbooks ofJohn Lewis Krimmelcontain perhaps the earliest depictions of a Christmas tree in American art, representing a family celebrating Christmas Eve in theMoraviantradition.The first published image of a Christmas tree appeared in 1836 as thefrontispiecetoThe Stranger's Giftby Hermann Bokum. The first mention of the Christmas tree in American literature was in a story in the 1836 edition ofThe Token and Atlantic Souvenir, titled "New Year's Day", byCatherine Maria Sedgwick, where she tells the story of a German maid decorating her mistress' tree. Also, awoodcutof the British royal family with their Christmas tree at Windsor Castle, initially published inThe Illustrated London Newsin December 1848, was copied in the United States at Christmas 1850, inGodey's Lady's Book.Godey'scopied it exactly, except for the removal of the Queen's tiara and Prince Albert's moustache, to remake the engraving into an American scene.The republishedGodey'simage became the first widely circulated picture of a decorated evergreen Christmas tree in America. Art historianKaral Ann Marlingcalled Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, shorn of their royal trappings, "the first influential American Christmas tree".Folk-culture historian Alfred Lewis Shoemaker states, "In all of America there was no more important medium in spreading the Christmas tree in the decade 1850–60 thanGodey's Lady's Book". The image was reprinted in 1860, and by the 1870s, putting up a Christmas tree had become even more common in America.
PresidentBenjamin Harrisonand his wifeCarolineput up the firstWhite House Christmas treein 1889.
Several cities in the United States with German connections lay claim to that country's first Christmas tree.Windsor Locks, Connecticut, claims that a Hessian soldier put up a Christmas tree in 1777 while imprisoned at the Noden-Reed House,while the "First Christmas Tree in America" is also claimed byEaston, Pennsylvania, where German settlers purportedly erected a Christmas tree in 1816. In his diary, Matthew Zahm ofLancaster, Pennsylvania, recorded the use of a Christmas tree in 1821, leading Lancaster to also lay claim to the first Christmas tree in America.Other accounts creditCharles Follen, a German immigrant to Boston, for being the first to introduce to America the custom of decorating a Christmas tree.In 1847, August Imgard, a German immigrant living inWooster, Ohiocut ablue sprucetree from a woods outside town, had the Wooster village tinsmith construct a star, and placed the tree in his house, decorating it with paper ornaments, gilded nuts andKuchen.German immigrantCharles Minnigerodeaccepted a position as a professor of humanities at theCollege of William & MaryinWilliamsburg, Virginia, in 1842, where he taught Latin and Greek. Entering into the social life of theVirginia Tidewater, Minnigerode introduced the German custom of decorating an evergreen tree at Christmas at the home of law professorSt. George Tucker, thereby becoming another of many influences that prompted Americans to adopt the practice at about that time.An 1853 article on Christmas customs in Pennsylvania defines them as mostly "German in origin", including the Christmas tree, which is "planted in a flower pot filled with earth, and its branches are covered with presents, chiefly of confectionary, for the younger members of the family." The article distinguishes between customs in different states, however, claiming that in New England generally "Christmas is not much celebrated", whereas in Pennsylvania and New York it is.
WhenEdward H. Johnsonwas vice president of theEdison Electric Light Company, a predecessor ofGeneral Electric, he created the first known electrically illuminated Christmas tree at his home in New York City in 1882. Johnson became the "Father of Electric Christmas Tree Lights".
The lyrics sung in the United States to the German tuneO Tannenbaumbegin "O Christmas tree...", giving rise to the mistaken idea that theGermanwordTannenbaum(fir tree) means "Christmas tree", the German word for which is insteadWeihnachtsbaum.
Under thestate atheismof theSoviet Union, the Christmas tree—along with the entire celebration of the Christian holiday—was banned in the country after theOctober Revolution. However, the government then introduced aNew-year spruce(Russian:Новогодняя ёлка,romanized:Novogodnyaya yolka) in 1935 for theNew Yearholiday.It became a fully secular icon of the New Year holiday: for example, the crowning star was regarded not as a symbol of theBethlehem Star, but as theRed star. Decorations, such as figurines of airplanes, bicycles, space rockets,cosmonauts, and characters of Russian fairy tales, were produced. This tradition persists after the fall of the USSR, with theNew Year holidayoutweighing the Christmas (7 January) for a wide majority of Russian people.
ThePeanutsTV specialA Charlie Brown Christmas(1965) was influential on the pop culture surrounding the Christmas tree.Aluminum Christmas treeswere popular during the early 1960s in the US. They were satirized in the TV special and came to be seen as symbolizing the commercialization of Christmas. The term "Charlie Brown Christmas tree," describing any poor-looking or malformed little tree, also derives from the 1965 TV special, based on the appearance ofCharlie Brown's Christmas tree.
Since the early 20th century, it has become common in many cities, towns, and department stores to put up public Christmas trees outdoors, such as theMacy's Great TreeinAtlanta(since 1948), theRockefeller Center Christmas Treein New York City, and the large Christmas tree atVictoria SquareinAdelaide.
The use of fire retardant allows many indoor public areas to place real trees and be compliant with code. Licensed applicants of fire retardant solution spray the tree, tag the tree, and provide a certificate for inspection.
The United States'National Christmas Treehas been lit each year since 1923 on theSouth Lawnof theWhite House, becoming part of what evolved into a major holiday event at the White House. PresidentJimmy Carterlit only the crowning star atop the tree in 1979 in honor of the Americans beingheld hostage in Iran.This was repeated in 1980, except the tree was fully lit for 417 seconds, one second for each day the hostages had been in captivity.
During most of the 1970s and 1980s, the largest decorated Christmas tree in the world was put up every year on the property of theNational EnquirerinLantana, Florida. This tradition grew into one of the most spectacular and celebrated events in the history of southern Florida, but was discontinued on the death of the paper's founder in the late 1980s.
In some cities, a charity event called theFestival of Treesis organized, in which multiple trees are decorated and displayed.
The giving of Christmas trees has also often been associated with the end of hostilities. After the signing of theArmisticein 1918, the city ofManchester, England, sent a tree, and £500 to buy chocolate and cakes, for the children of the much-bombarded town ofLillein northern France.
In some cases, the trees represent special commemorative gifts, such as inTrafalgar SquareinLondon, where the City ofOslo,Norway, presents a tree to the people of London as a token of appreciation for the British support ofNorwegian resistanceduringWorld War II; inBoston, United States, where the tree is a gift from the province ofNova Scotia, in thanks for rapid deployment of supplies and rescuers to the 1917ammunition ship explosionthat leveled the city ofHalifax; and inNewcastle upon Tyne, England, where the main civic Christmas tree is an annual gift from the city ofBergen, Norway, in thanks for the part played by soldiers from Newcastle in liberating Bergen fromNazioccupation.Norway also annually gifts a Christmas tree toWashington, D.C., as a symbol of friendship between Norway and the US and as an expression of gratitude from Norway for the help received from the US duringWorld War II.
Both setting up and taking down a Christmas tree are associated with specific dates; liturgically, this is done through thehanging of the greensceremony.In many areas, it has become customary to set up one's Christmas tree onAdvent Sunday, the first day of theAdventseason.Traditionally, however, Christmas trees were not brought in and decorated until the evening ofChristmas Eve(24 December), the end of the Advent season and the start of thetwelve daysofChristmastide.It is customary for Christians in many localities to remove theirChristmas decorationson the last day of the twelve days of Christmastide that falls on 5 January—Epiphany Eve(Twelfth Night),although those in otherChristian countriesremove them onCandlemas, the conclusion of the extendedChristmas-Epiphany season(Epiphanytide).According to the first tradition, those who fail to remember to remove their Christmas decorations on Epiphany Eve must leave them untouched until Candlemas, the second opportunity to remove them; failure to observe this custom is considered inauspicious.
Christmas ornaments are decorations (usually made of glass, metal, wood, or ceramics) that are used to decorate a Christmas tree. The first decorated trees were adorned with apples, whitecandy canesand pastries in the shapes of stars, hearts and flowers.Glassbaubles were first made inLauscha,Germanyin 1847,and also garlands of glass beads and tin figures that could be hung on trees. The popularity of these decorations fueled the production of glass figures made by highly skilledartisanswithclaymolds.
Tinseland several types of garland or ribbon are commonly used as Christmas tree decorations. Silveredsaran-based tinsel was introduced later. Delicate mold-blown and painted colored glass Christmas ornaments were a specialty of the glass factories in theThuringian Forest, especially in Lauscha in the late 19th century, and have since become a large industry, complete with famous-name designers. Baubles are another common decoration, consisting of small hollow glass or plastic spheres coated with a thin metallic layer to make them reflective, with a further coating of a thin pigmented polymer in order to provide coloration.
Lighting with electric lights (Christmas lights or, in the United Kingdom, fairy lights) is commonly done. Atree-topper, typically an angel or star, completes the decoration.
In the late 1800s, home-made white Christmas trees were made by wrapping strips of cotton batting around leafless branches creating the appearance of a snow-laden tree.
In the 1940s and 1950s, popularized by Hollywood films in the late 1930s,flockingwas very popular on theWest Coast of the United States. There were home flocking kits that could be used with vacuum cleaners. In the 1980s, some trees were sprayed with fluffy white flocking to simulate snow.
The earliest legend of the origin of afir treebecoming aChristian symboldates back to 723 AD, involvingSaint Bonifaceas he wasevangelizingGermany.It is said that at a pagan gathering inGeismar, where a group of people dancing under a decorated oak tree were about to sacrifice a baby in the name ofThor, Saint Boniface took an axe and called on the name ofJesus.In one swipe, he managed to take down the entire oak tree, to the crowd's astonishment.Behind the fallen tree was a baby fir tree.Boniface said, "let this tree be the symbol of the true God, its leaves are ever green and will not die." The tree's needles pointed heavenward and it was shaped triangularly, representing theHoly Trinity.
Whendecoratingthe Christmas tree, many individuals place a star at the top of the tree, symbolizing theStar of Bethlehem.It became popular for people to also use an angel to top the Christmas tree in order to symbolize the angels mentioned in the accounts of theNativity of Jesus.Additionally, in the context of a Christian celebration of Christmas, the evergreen Christmas tree symbolizes eternal life; the candles or lights on the tree represent Christ as the light of the world.
Each year, 33 to 36 million Christmas trees are produced in America, and 50 to 60 million are produced in Europe. In 1998, there were about 15,000 growers in America (a third of them "choose and cut" farms). In that same year, it was estimated that Americans spent $1.5billion on Christmas trees.By 2016, that had climbed to $2.04billion for natural trees and a further $1.86billion for artificial trees. In Europe, 75 million trees worth €2.4billion ($3.2 billion) are harvested annually.
The most commonly used species arefir(Abies), which have the benefit of not shedding their needles when they dry out, as well as retaining good foliage color and scent; but species in othergeneraare also used.
In northernEuropemost commonly used are:
InNorth America,Central America,South AmericaandAustraliamost commonly used are:
Several other species are used to a lesser extent. Less-traditional conifers are sometimes used, such asgiant sequoia,Leyland cypress,Monterey cypress, andeastern juniper. Various types ofsprucetree are also used for Christmas trees (including theblue spruceand, less commonly, thewhite spruce); but spruces begin to lose their needles rapidly upon being cut, and spruce needles are often sharp, making decorating uncomfortable.Virginia pineis still available on some tree farms in the southeastern United States; however, its winter color is faded. The long-needledeastern white pineis also used there, though it is an unpopular Christmas tree in most parts of the country, owing also to its faded winter coloration and limp branches, making decorating difficult with all but the lightest ornaments. Norfolk Island pine is sometimes used, particularly inOceania, and inAustralia, some species of the generaCasuarinaandAllocasuarinaare also occasionally used as Christmas trees. But, by far, the most common tree is the Pinus radiataMonterey pine.Adenanthos sericeusor Albany woolly bush is commonly sold in southern Australia as a potted living Christmas tree.Hemlockspecies are generally considered unsuitable as Christmas trees due to their poor needle retention and inability to support the weight of lights and ornaments.
Some trees, frequently referred to as "living Christmas trees", are sold live with roots and soil, often from aplant nursery, to be stored at nurseries in planters or planted later outdoors and enjoyed (and often decorated) for years or decades. Others are produced in a container and sometimes astopiaryfor a porch or patio. However, when done improperly, the combination of root loss caused by digging, and the indoor environment of high temperature and low humidity is very detrimental to the tree's health; additionally, the warmth of an indoor climate will bring the tree out of its natural winterdormancy, leaving it little protection when put back outside into a cold outdoor climate. Often Christmas trees are a large attraction for living animals, including mice and spiders. Thus, the survival rate of these trees is low.However, when done properly, replanting provides higher survival rates.
European tradition prefers the open aspect of naturally grown, unsheared trees, while in North America (outside western areas where trees are often wild-harvested on public lands)there is a preference for close-sheared trees with denser foliage, but less space to hang decorations.
In the past, Christmas trees were often harvested from wild forests, but now almost all are commercially grown ontree farms. Almost all Christmas trees in the United States are grown on Christmas tree farms where they are cut after about ten years of growth and new trees planted. According to theUnited States Department of Agriculture's agriculture census for 2007, 21,537 farms were producing conifers for the cut Christmas tree market in America, 5,717.09 square kilometres (1,412,724 acres) were planted in Christmas trees.
The life cycle of a Christmas tree from the seed to a 2-metre (7 ft) tree takes, depending on species and treatment in cultivation, between eight and twelve years. First, the seed is extracted from cones harvested from older trees. These seeds are then usually grown in nurseries and then sold to Christmas tree farms at an age of three to four years. The remaining development of the tree greatly depends on the climate, soil quality, as well as the cultivation and how the trees are tended by the Christmas tree farmer.One issue that farmers face is the destruction of pine trees by pests, such asT. piniperda.
The first artificial Christmas trees were developed in Germany during the 19th century,though earlier examples exist.These "trees" were made using goose feathers that were dyed green,as one response by Germans to continueddeforestation.Feather Christmas treesranged widely in size, from a small 5-centimeter (2 in) tree to a large 2.5-meter (98 in) tree sold in department stores during the 1920s.Often, the tree branches were tipped with artificial red berries which acted ascandle holders.
Over the years, other styles of artificial Christmas trees have evolved and become popular. In 1930, the U.S.-based Addis Brush Company created the first artificial Christmas tree made frombrushbristles.Another type of artificial tree is thealuminum Christmas tree,first manufactured inChicagoin 1958,and later inManitowoc, Wisconsin, where the majority of the trees were produced.Most modern artificial Christmas trees are made from plastic recycled from used packaging materials, such aspolyvinyl chloride(PVC).Approximately 10% of artificial Christmas trees are using virgin suspension PVC resin; despite being plastic most artificial trees are not recyclable or biodegradable.
Trends developed in the early 2000s includedoptical fiberChristmas trees, which come in two major varieties; one resembling a traditional Christmas tree.OneDallas-based company offers "holographic mylar" trees in many hues.Tree-shaped objects made from such materials as cardboard,glass,ceramic or other materials can be found in use as tabletop decorations. Upside-down artificial Christmas trees became popular for a short time and were originally introduced as a marketing gimmick; they allowed consumers to get closer to ornaments for sale in retail stores and opened up floor space for more products.
Artificial trees became increasingly popular during the late 20th century.Users of artificial Christmas trees assert that they are more convenient, and, because they are reusable, much cheaper than their natural alternative.They are also considered much safer,as natural trees can be a significant fire hazard. Between 2001 and 2007, artificial Christmas tree sales in the U.S. jumped from 7.3 million to 17.4 million.Currently, it is estimated that around 58% of Christmas trees used in the United States are artificial, while numbers in the United Kingdom are indicated to be around 66%.
The debate about the environmental impact of artificial trees is ongoing. Generally, natural tree growers contend that artificial trees are more environmentally harmful than their natural counterparts.However, trade groups such as theAmerican Christmas Tree Association, claim that the PVC used in Christmas trees is chemically and mechanically stable, does not affect human health, and has excellent recyclable properties.
Live trees are typically grown as acropand replanted in rotation after cutting, often providing suitablehabitatfor wildlife.Alternately, live trees can be donated to livestock farmers who find that such trees uncontaminated by chemical additives are excellent fodder.In some cases, management of Christmas tree crops can result in poor habitat since it sometimes involves heavy input ofpesticides.
Concerns have been raised by arborists about people cutting down old and rare conifers, such as theKeteleeria evelynianafor Christmas trees.
Real or cut trees are used only for a short time, but can be recycled and used asmulch, wildlife habitat, or used to preventerosion.Real trees are carbon-neutral, they emit no more carbon dioxide by being cut down and disposed of than they absorb while growing.However, emissions can occur from farming activities and transportation. An independentlife-cycle assessmentstudy, conducted by a firm of experts in sustainable development, states that a natural tree will generate 3.1 kg (6.8 lb) ofgreenhouse gasesevery year (based on purchasing 5 km (3.1 mi) from home) whereas the artificial tree will produce 48.3 kg (106 lb) over its lifetime.Some people use living Christmas or potted trees for several seasons, providing a longer life cycle for each tree. Living Christmas trees can be purchased or rented from local market growers. Rentals are picked up after the holidays, while purchased trees can be planted by the owner after use or donated to local tree adoption or urban reforestation services.Smaller and younger trees may be replanted after each season, with the following year running up to the next Christmas allowing the tree to carry out further growth.
The use of lead stabilizer in Chinese imported trees has been an issue of concern among politicians and scientists over recent years. A 2004 study found that while in general artificial trees pose little health risk fromlead contamination, there do exist "worst-case scenarios" where major health risks to young children exist.A 2008United States Environmental Protection Agencyreport found that as the PVC in artificial Christmas trees aged it began to degrade.The report determined that of the fifty million artificial trees in the United States approximately twenty million were nine or more years old, the point where dangerous lead contamination levels are reached.A professional study on the life-cycle assessment of both real and artificial Christmas trees revealed that one must use an artificial Christmas tree at least twenty years to leave an environmental footprint as small as the natural Christmas tree.
Under theMarxist-Leninistdoctrine ofstate atheismin the Soviet Union, after its foundation in 1917, Christmas celebrations—along with other religious holidays—were prohibited as a result of the Sovietanti-religious campaign.TheLeague of Militant Atheistsencouraged school pupils to campaign against Christmas traditions, among them being the Christmas tree, as well as other Christian holidays, includingEaster; the League established an anti-religious holiday to be the 31st of each month as a replacement.With the Christmas tree being prohibited in accordance withSoviet anti-religious legislation, people supplanted the former Christmas custom with New Year's trees.In 1935, the tree was brought back asNew Year treeand became a secular, not a religious holiday.
Pope John Paul IIintroduced the Christmas tree custom to the Vatican in 1982. Although at first disapproved of by some as out of place at the centre of the Roman Catholic Church, theVatican Christmas Treehas become an integral part of the Vatican Christmas celebrations,and in 2005Pope Benedict XVIspoke of it as part of the normal Christmas decorations in Catholic homes.In 2004, Pope John Paul called the Christmas tree a symbol of Christ. This very ancient custom, he said, exalts the value of life, as in winter what is evergreen becomes a sign of undying life, and it reminds Christians of the "tree of life",an image of Christ, the supreme gift of God to humanity.In the previous year he said: "Beside the crib, the Christmas tree, with its twinkling lights, reminds us that with the birth of Jesus the tree of life has blossomed anew in the desert of humanity. The crib and the tree: precious symbols, which hand down in time the true meaning of Christmas."The Catholic Church's officialBook of Blessingshas a service for the blessing of the Christmas tree in a home.TheEpiscopal ChurchinThe Anglican Family Prayer Book, which has theimprimaturof The Rt. Rev. Catherine S. Roskam of theAnglican Communion, has long had a ritual titledBlessing of a Christmas Tree, as well asBlessing of a Crèche, for use in the church and the home; family services and public liturgies for the blessing of Christmas trees are common in other Christian denominations as well.
Chrismon trees, which find their origin in theLutheran Christiantradition though now used in many Christian denominations such as the Catholic Church and Methodist Church, are used to decorate churches during the liturgical season ofAdvent; during the period ofChristmastide, Christian churches display the traditional Christmas tree in their sanctuaries.
In 2005, the city of Boston renamed the spruce tree used to decorate theBoston Commona "Holiday Tree" rather than a "Christmas Tree".The name change was reversed after the city was threatened with several lawsuits.