Oh Christmas Tree

Thursday, 18 December 2008 22:26

 

The Christmas Tree is one of the iconic symbols of the Holiday season.  While accepted today as the normal Christmas tradition, the story of the Tree is an ancient one.

History indicates that the tradition of the tree started in Germany in the 16th century, most likely an offshoot of pagan celebrations of the Winter Solstice, which is December 21st.  The tree was slow to grow in popularity and was limited mainly Germany.   The first trees introduced into Britain by German immigrants did not immediately take off, and the early trees introduced into America by the Hessian soldiers were not recorded in any particular quantity. The Pennsylvanian German settlements had community trees as early as 1747. However, the tradition really came into the mainstream when a woodcutting of the royal family standing around a Christmas tree was published in the Illustrated London News of December 1848, and was copied in the United States at Christmas 1850.  

 

 Looking at the woodcut, one can make an interesting observation.  The tree in the woodcut is actually placed on top of a table.  This tells the story of the trees past, and how it came to shape the future of the Christmas tree as an industry.

Historically in Germany, the "tree" was obtained by cutting off the top of a large tree.  The arboricultural equivalent of decapitation, this practice prevented the source tree from further growth.  As a result, in some areas statutes were made to prevent people having more than one tree.  

Because of this unsustainable past, and the large commercialization of the tree as an image of the season, almost all Christmas trees are commercially grown on tree farms where they are cut after about ten years of growth and new trees are planted each year.

 

According to the National Christmas Tree Association, there were over 31 million trees purchased in 2007, with a combined retail value of $1.3 billion dollar.  In addition to the commercial value, these tree farms help conserving rural working landscapes, and provide valuable ecosystem services, including carbon sequestration, wildlife habitat, and providing natural water filteration to the watersheds the tree farms  are located in.  In the U.S alone,  there are over 21,000 Christmas Tree Farms that cover 446,996 acres of land. 

The life cycle of a Christmas tree from the seed to a tree takes, depending on species and treatment in cultivation, between 8 and 12 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 3-4 years.

 

Once nice benefit to being located in Washington D.C is witnessing the annual lighting of the National Christmas Tree.  This living 41' 9" Colorado Blue Spruce was planted in the Elipse, just south of the White House. The national tree tree is as a message of peace to the nation and the world.  In what becomes the "Christmas Pathway of Peace," the National Christmas Tree and 56 smaller trees--one for each state, five territories and the District of Columbia--serve as the focal point on the Elipse during the holiday season.

 

 

Its easy to see how the use of a tree came to be one symbol of  joy during the holiday season.  Renewable and refreshing, nothing seems quite as peaceful as a tree, draped in lights, twinkling against the darkness of night. 

Sustainable Solutions wants to wish all of our clients, colleagues, friends, and family, a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and all the best for the New year.