A Little History on the Christmas Tree

Story by: Tammy Lovvorn

Excitement fills the air as stores begin transitioning their shelves for Christmas with bows, paper, ornaments, lights and Christmas Trees. Local Christmas Tree farmers are preparing their farms for those wanting to start a tradition of cutting down a family Christmas Tree. Are you going to start a new tradition this year?

The National Christmas tree Association (NCTA) dates the first written record of a decorated Christmas Tree to 1510. Local merchants' from Riga, Latvia decorated a tree with artificial roses and danced around it in the marketplace. The rose was used for many years and considered to be a symbol for the Virgin Mary. German settlers introduced Americans to the Christmas Tree in the early 1800's. Trees were initially harvested from the forest and not sold commercially until fifty years later.

In 1901 W. V. McGalliard planted 25,000 Spruce trees on his farm in New Jersey and hence, the first Christmas Tree farm was started. Today, there are over 350 million Christmas Trees growing on farms across the United States. The most tree producing states are Oregon, North Carolina, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Washington. Alabama ranks in the middle and there is even a local Christmas Tree Farm here. The farm is called Cole's Christmas Tree Farm and is located in Woodland, Alabama.

Christmas Tree farmers plant 1 to 3 seedlings per year for every tree harvested and have to tend to trees for several years before they are ready for your home. On average, it takes seven years to grow a tree to 6-7 feet... some trees it might take up to 15 years to reach the same height. According to NCTA, there are approximately 25-30 million real Christmas Trees sold in the U.S. every year.

There are many varieties of Christmas Tress... firs, pines, cypress, cedar... artificial? What is your favorite? Shopping for a Christmas tree can be a little confusing... here is a few snippets of information about a few of the most popular ones.

First up is the Fraser Fir. This tree is often called the Cadillac of Christmas trees for its strong branches, soft foliage, and pleasant fragrance. This Christmas tree retains its needles and stays fresh throughout the holiday season. It has beautiful dark green foliage and its branched are perfect for large heavy ornaments. Many tree farms and local nurseries carry pre-cut Fraser firs, typically grown in North Carolina.

One popular Christmas tree in the South is the Virginia Pine. The pine's branches are stout and woody and has an extremely dense foliage. Woodpeckers love these trees... so make sure your tree is free of critters before bringing the tree in the house! The Virginia pine's needles are paired and twisted. Of course, the fragrance is piney.

There are two cypress trees which make beautiful Christmas trees: the Leyland Cypress and the Sapphire Cypress. The Leyland Cypress has dark green - gray color and very little aroma. Its foliage has small soft needles and flexible branches, which do not support heavy ornaments. The Leyland Cypress is a good choice for those with allergies to sap as it does not have any! The Carolina Sapphire Cypress has lacy blue foliage, a citrus aroma and its branches are strong enough for those heavy ornaments.

Selecting the Perfect Christmas Tree

If you have made the decision to purchase a real tree this year, congratulations! Here are a few tips from the NCTA to help you select the perfect tree for your home:

• Measure your space - know your ceiling height and the width of the place it's going to reside. You don't want to have to move your favorite chair to fit the tree or have to look through the tree to watch your favorite Christmas movie.
• Take a measuring tape with you to the farm or store.
• Measure the tree in the field! The trees in the field look small when the sky is the ceiling.
• Think about all those decorations you have stored in the attic... are you placing them all on the tree? Do you need stiff branches this year?
• Ask the farmer or retailer about the trees. If the tree is pre-cut, ask when it was delivered.
• Perform a branch/needle test for freshness - grad the branch with your hand and gently pull the needles - they should not come off easily. Then bend the outer branches - they should be pliable. If they are brittle and snap easily, the tree is too dry and should be avoided.
• Look to see if there are lots of needle loss, faded or discolored foliage.. if so, keep looking, this tree is too dry.

Taking Care of the Christmas Tree

The tree is in your home and looks fabulous in the room. Here are a few tips from the NCTA to keep it looking its best:

• Place your fresh tree in a water reservoir as soon as you get home. The size of the reservoir should hold 1 quart of water per inch of tree diameter.
• Use lots of water and check the water level daily.
• Make a fresh cut to remove about a 1/2 inch thick disk of wood from the base of the trunk before putting the tree in the stand. Don't cut the trunk at an angle, or into a V-shape, or whittle the tree to fit the stand.
• Keep trees away from major sources of heat (fireplaces, heaters, heat vents, direct sunlight).
• Use lights that produce low heat, such as miniature lights.
• Always turn off the tree lights when leaving the house when going to bed.
• Once Christmas is over, find a place that recycles Christmas Trees.

Start a new tradition this year by purchasing a real Christmas tree from your local Christmas tree farm and helping the environment by recycling your tree.

If you want to learn more about the different types of Christmas trees visit the National Christmas Tree Association website, as well as the History Channel.