The Christmas tree – or also Christmas tree – is the highlight of Christmas for many people. During the Advent season, fir trees are offered for sale; there are different types to choose from. Traditionally, people decorate the Christmas trees with different decorations. Read about the custom of the Christmas tree and get tips on buying the Christmas tree.
The Christmas tree at Christmas time – A long tradition
The Christmas weeks are indisputably the most beautiful time of the year. The Christmas season begins after Totensonntag, the last Sunday before the first Advent, and ends within the church year on the Sunday after the sixth of January, the feast of the Baptism of the Lord.
Traditionally, the Christmas tree is set up on Christmas Eve, which also involves decorating it. Those who behave traditionally, put it up after the fourth Advent, that is, after the fourth Sunday of Advent. Advent wreath and Christmas tree replace each other.
Nowadays, the Christmas tree is often set up, decorated and lit before the fourth of Advent. This is done in parallel with the Advent wreath in different living rooms.
The Christmas tree decoration with baubles and figurines is a Christmas tradition in many families, which is passed down through the generations, inherited, so to speak. Christmas is a Christian festival that also has a traditional routine in most families. This includes:
- the dinner on Christmas Eve
- the common attendance of the Christmas mass
- decorating the Christmas tree
This begins with the selection and purchase of the Christmas tree a few weeks before it is set up, that is, brought into the apartment and fixed in the Christmas tree stand. Then it is decorated, and for this purpose the decades-old family Christmas tree decorations are brought out.
It is the effort not to have to buy anything new – at most it is supplemented. This also applies to the glass art, which is presented annually by the glassblowing workshops in Lauscha or in other places in the Thuringian Forest as well as in the Erzgebirge mountains. It enriches the existing Christmas tree decorations and thus completes the tradition for the next generation.
The custom of the Christmas tree
There is no proven date when people started to put up a decorated tree for Christmas. In many different cultures the custom was widespread, to decorate the home with green plants, because they stood for vitality and consequently for health.
While in ancient Egypt, for example, Encyclopedia Brittannica was used, the Romans decorated their houses with laurel. In northern regions, fir branches were used during the winter season, eagerly awaiting the arrival of spring.
Later the the fir was more and more associated with the coming year; however, it was probably set up during the Christmas season. The oldest document describing a Christmas tree dates back to 1527. In 1605, again, there were notes about the Christmas tree as a common custom.
In Central Europe, fir trees were rare; only the wealthy classes could afford them. This changed in the second half of the 19. This was in the middle of the nineteenth century, when several forests were planted.
A decorated Christmas tree simply belongs to Christmas
Tips for buying a Christmas tree: The freshness test for the Christmas tree
Since for most humans in the country a fir tree, all the same whether large or small, to the Christmas celebration simply belongs, each year again eagerly a tree after the other one is struck and already often with the beginning of the Advent time tried to bring to the woman or the man. Unfortunately, not all traders are honest, when asked when the tree was cut and often disappointed to find that it has lost its famous "leaves" already after few days eagerly needle dropping. In order to be able to go such a nuisance out of the way, it is called thus Eyes on when buying a Christmas tree, which is basically almost a matter of trust.
Recognize fresh Christmas trees
A characteristic of freshness is the leaking resin at the ends of the tree. However, you can not rely on this, because many sellers simply cut here again and again. If you do not have the possibility to get your Christmas tree directly from the forest farmer or the forestry office, then look for the seal of origin. A eco-certificate, such as from Naturland, reveals to you, for example, that it is a Christmas tree from an ecological forest management.
The easiest way, however, to enjoy the freshness of the fir tree is with a Needle test make. Pull lightly on the needles. If it is a tree that has already been cut a long time ago, the needles will come off very quickly, showing you that if you don’t want to sink into a sea of needles at home, you’d better keep your hands off the tree.
Tip for keeping the CHrist tree fresh
Once you have finally found your Christmas tree and brought it home, you should free it from its netting and keep it fresh for a long time in a bucket of cold water store in a cool place.
And: Before you then put it in the apartment, it is recommended to saw off the end again. With these tips you will then have much joy in your Christmas tree and if you want, even until well after New Year’s Eve.
It is important when buying to pay attention to the freshness of the tree
In addition to the freshness of the tree, the type of fir is also important when buying it.
Popular types of Christmas tree
Firs are considered the most popular species for Christmas trees, but spruces and other conifers are also chosen. Until the end of the 50s, the most popular tree in this country was the Red spruce preferred, finally followed the Blue spruce and from the beginning of the 80’s one decided more and more often for the Nordmann fir.
This is still one of the most popular tree species when it comes to the Christmas tree. It is characterized by fairly uniform growth and soft needles. However, compared to other types of fir, it is almost odorless.
In many a household, the freshness and type of Christmas tree do not matter.
Artificial Christmas tree – practical or silent?
For many decades it was the custom to cut the Christmas tree directly in the forest. Later still industrially grown firs and spruces were sold at dumping prices. The latest craze, however, are Christmas trees made of plastic – but they draw a deep rift through the devotees of the holy feast.
Some people, however, have ecological concerns about having a tree cut down for those few days, after which it is disposed of. Others are simply "sorry" for the tree. However, experiments with Christmas trees that kept their root balls and buried in the open air after the holiday have not developed to everyone’s satisfaction. After all, you can’t plant another fir tree in your front yard every year, and wild private reforestation is also prohibited for obvious reasons.
Remains the Christmas tree made of plastic. The biggest argument against it has been that it is "somehow not real" appears. And in fact, some specimens used to look their artificial origin from afar.
Others complain that an artificial tree does not smell of spruce needles and resin – when for them this smell simply belongs to Christmas.
For both problems at least one solution has been found by now, and today’s artificial Christmas trees are very difficult to distinguish from real ones. However, these deceptively real Christmas trees are not necessarily inexpensive – but you can use them for a lifetime, so that the high purchase price pays off over the years.
The advantages of an artificial Christmas tree
The offer of the artificial trees is meanwhile far diversified and reaches from the blue fir to the noble spruce, so that one can follow also here the individual taste, just like with the purchase of a genuine tree. Artificial fir trees, whose branches can be folded before and after the celebration to save space, can be individually bent and plucked by hand until the tree has the desired appearance.
Actually, such a little tree made of plastic and synthetic fibers is quite convenient. It does not needles and does not lose branches.
In addition, it can be reuse year after year and always appears in old-fashioned splendor. It doesn’t need any care either, but can easily be disassembled into its individual parts and stored in a cardboard box after the festivities.
With a little care – every now and then the dust would have to be removed from the branches – it sometimes lasts for several decades and saves considerable expenses in the process. Not to mention the annual torment of looking for a suitable tree, which in the end you never find anyway.
Instead of taking the puny fir at the last minute, such a miracle tree made of plastic offers itself nevertheless formally. But that is not enough.
For particularly resourceful developers have developed artificial trees, in which the Christmas tree decorations poured directly on the branches was. Tree and decoration practically form one big whole.
No one has to fear that the children or the dog will tear the balls from the green while playing. This danger has finally been averted.
It is the same with candles. If you are not stingy when buying, you will also find them already attached to the tree. In case of doubt, the lights have to be changed now and then. But for it thanks to the other work saving is now yes enough time.
In addition, an artificial coniferous tree is a far lower fire risk than a real one. Also the allergy potential of an artificial tree is in contrast to the real tree no more topic.
Last but not least, an artificial tree environmental benefits, after all, a real Christmas tree has to grow for about eight to twelve years on a Christmas tree plantation and needs the corresponding amount of pesticides during this time – and this again every year.
An artificial tree is produced once and can be used again and again from now on. And for the right Christmas atmosphere, the industry has also come up with something: Room sprays with spruce needle or fir scent.
The advantages of a real Christmas tree
But honestly, who wants that? A natural tree smells and thus brings the right Christmas atmosphere into the house. In addition, each green has its character, which the plastic can not replace.
A different growth of the branches, a differentiated coloring Of needles, as well as a trunk, which still likes to stick some golden resin. The clamshell fir simply can’t offer all that.
On the other hand, whether it is to be considered as stillos and kitsch depends on the different tastes. Especially since Christmas is the moment of the year when purely practical considerations are unimportant anyway.
The tree should of course also stand safely – the purchase of the appropriate Christmas tree stand is therefore at least as important.