Symbolism, ritual, tradition—call it what you will, decorating trees is now synonymous with Christmas.
It doesn’t have to be an evergreen, it could be a palm tree, a cactus or some other species native to wherever one lives. Some trees are plastic or some other non-living product, some are ceramic. Then there are the Charlie Brown trees, which are more like a limb protruding off what barely can be called a trunk.
People can find all sorts of reasons to decorate a tree this time of year. (Image: Kathryn Reed)
Trees are erected by the religious and those who aren’t so sure.
This whole tree decorating business can be traced back to Europe.
“Germany is credited with starting the Christmas tree tradition—as we now know it—by the 16th century when sources record devout Christians bringing decorated trees into their homes. Some built Christmas pyramids of wood and decorated them with evergreens and candles if wood was scarce,” according to History.com.
Trees and any celebration of Christmas were initially taboo in the United States.
“… as late as the 1840s, Christmas trees were seen as pagan symbols and not accepted by most Americans,” History.com reveals. “It is not surprising that, like many other festive Christmas customs, the tree was adopted so late in America. New England’s first Puritan leaders viewed Christmas celebrations as unholy. The pilgrims’ second governor, William Bradford, wrote that he tried hard to stamp out ‘pagan mockery’ of the observance, penalizing any frivolity.”
Today, the whole tree business—real or fake—is big business.
“Multiplying the $80 to $100 price by the 15 million natural trees and 20 million artificial trees sold in 2022 means Christmas trees are roughly a $3 billion business annually — without including any extra money spent on the decorations,” according to Scientific American.
Even though this is a big number, more and more Christmas tree farms in the United States are closing shop. A large percentage of trees are now imported from Canada. What their price will be if tariffs are imposed, well, who knows? Maybe it will be a boon for U.S. growers.
I absolutely love this. Here’s to a magical holiday for all.
I stopped doing trees a long time ago. Not because of any pagan non-beliefs, or dislike of them. Rather because I love trees, and I hate to see them killed so that we can have but a few weeks of selfish pleasure. By all means decorate them and celebrate them! BUT DON”T KILL THEM. Keep them alive and celebrate their beauty!
my soap box.
This reminds me of the Victorian Christmas I did in 1997 in Sacramento a few years before I moved to South Lake Tahoe. Inspired by Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” I did a lot of research on Christmas celebrations in England during that period. The Victorian era lasted for a long time and Christmas trees grew in popularity. For most of the period, tabletop trees rather than larger trees were the choice and that is what I had.
This year, I once again chose a tabletop tree and am enjoying it.
I see my tree mentioned here.
Growing up Jewish we didn’t have a tree when I was young.
Married someone with young kids so we bought a fresh tree, nine footers as we had a vaulted ceiling and near the ocean so wanted the pine scent in the house.
Moved to Tahoe and surrounded by various types of conifer trees still want the pine/fir scent indoors so went to smaller three foot trees
Recently moved to the Carson Valley and the three foot tradition still in play.
I have 20 + year old decorations I still love!
Happy Holiday Season and Cheers to the New Year !