Where
does the tradition of evergreens at Christmas originate?
Legends
tell of the decorated tree used in winter celebrations long before
the advent of Christianity. Plants and trees that remained green
all year had a special meaning for people during winter. Just as
people today decorate their homes at Christmas with pine, spruce
and fir tree, ancient people hung evergreen boughs over their doors
and windows.
In
the middle ages, the feast of Adam and Eve was held on December
24. Its symbol was the Paradise Tree, a fir tree hung with red apples.
It
is generally agreed, however, that the use of an evergreen tree
as part of the Christian Christmas celebration started 400 years
ago in Germany and spread to most of northern Europe by the 19th
century.
The
Christmas tradition that is celebrated today has borrowed many customs
from many lands, but families who have come from all over the world
have all adopted the Christmas tree as the symbol and centerpiece
of this holiday. As it has for centuries, the evergreen still symbolizes
our belief in renewed life and the hope and faith that lives in
all mankind, regardless of race or creed.
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How
are real Christmas trees beneficial to our environment?
Just
one acre of Christmas trees produces enough oxygen to support eighteen
people.
In the process, CO2 is taken out of the atmosphere, counteracting
the production of CO2 resulting from human use of fossil fuels.
Trees also act as air pollution filters and can remove up to 13
tons of airborne pollutants per acre per year. Christmas tree farms
are havens for a wide variety of bird and mammal species including
sparrows, chickadees, foxes, coyotes, mice, voles, and squirrels.
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Am
I harming the forest by choosing a real tree?
Definitely not! Christmas trees do not come from the forest! Almost
everywhere in North America, Christmas trees are grown as a crop
on tree farms. For every tree harvested, there are ten more coming
along, otherwise the farmer could not harvest each year.
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Is
tree farming harmful to our environment?
NO!
Christmas trees are, except for cultivated forests, the most environmentally
friendly crop around. This is because a tree is harvested only after
ten years. To ensure future harvest, ninety percent of the farm
must remain in trees all the time.
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Will
my Christmas tree cause problems at the landfill site after Christmas?
No.
Most municipalities collect discarded natural Christmas trees and
chip them for use as mulching materials. Real Christmas trees are
completely biodegradable and will, on their own, break down and
return their stored nutrients to the soil from which they came.
There
are also other ways in which REAL Christmas trees go right on giving
long after the Christmas season is over. They can be used as bird
feeders, wood products can be made from their stems or they can
be used as wildlife cover in fish ponds and woodlots alike.
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How
can I perform a "freshness test" on my tree?
Gently
grasp a branch between your thumb and forefinger and pull it toward
you. Very few needles should come off in your hand if the tree is
fresh. Shake or bounce the tree on its stump. You should not see
an excessive amount of green needles fall on the ground. Some loss
of interior brown needles is normal and will occur over the lifetime
of a tree.
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Is
there anything else I can do, aside from watering my tree, to keep
it fresh?
The best secret for keeping
your tree fresh is water, water, water. Once you
get your tree you want to cut 1/4 inch off the end and put it it
immediately into water. Be sure to store your tree in a cool, shaded
place out of the sun, such as a covered porch or a garage, until
you're ready to set up your tree. Even during that time you need
to keep your tree in a bucket of water. The best thing you can do
to keep your tree fresh is to make sure it never runs out of water.
When buying your tree, make sure you do the "freshness test"
to ensure you are buying a fresh tree.
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How
long will my tree stay fresh?
If
a tree is properly cared for and watered, it should stay fresh through
New Year's Day.
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Should
I add anything to the water in the tree stand to help it stay fresh?
Your
tree will stay fresh with just plain water.
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What
if my tree doesn't seem to be absorbing water in
the stand?
If
you've followed all the care tips (keep it out of sun and wind,
as well as making a fresh cut off the base before setting it up
indoors) there are a couple of things to consider. First, if you
cut your own tree at a choose and cut farm, it will not absorb water
right away since it has not had time to begin drying out. Second,
the best indicator of dryness is the tree itself, not the water
level in the stand.
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What
if I forgot to make a fresh cut off the base of the tree before
setting it up?
Within
4 to 6 hours of exposure, the tree will form a sap seal over the
stump and it will not absorb water. If this happens, you can really
only do 2 things: either take all decorations off and the tree out
of the stand and make a fresh cut, or drill holes into the trunk
1/2 inch deep, 1/2 inch apart. This might allow the tree to start
absorbing water. But once this is done, be sure to keep the water
level above the holes.
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What
kind of cut should I make?
Although
some people make angled cuts thinking it helps the tree absorb more
water, this is not true. A thin, (1/4 inch) horizontal cut is best
for stability.
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Do
real trees present the type of fire hazard we are often told about?
The
National Fire Protection Association tracks fires and their causes.
According to their data, of all residential fires, real Christmas
trees are involved in less than 1/10 of one percent (0.1%). Keep
that in mind if you see a sensational blazing tree on the "Action
News." These trees are often doused in a flammable liquid or
cut many months prior to harvest time.
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Should
I be concerned about bugs being in the tree?
In
most climates, bugs are dormant long before December. There are
a few instances where insects can be cocooned on the tree and the
warm temperature in a house will bring them out. However, this is
very rare. Thumping the tree on the ground before bringing it into
the home will alleviate most potential problems while also eliminating
dead needles.
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With
permission from The National Christmas Tree Association and the
Christmas Tree Farmers of Ontario.
