Interesting and Fascinating Facts About Christmas Tree

Interesting and Fascinating Facts About Christmas Tree

It’s that time of the year again when we are all set to celebrate one of the most-awaited festivals of the 365-day cycle. Christmas is knocking at the door, and nations worldwide are planning how to make the moments grander and more glorious.

However, few of us know how the tree became integral to this festivity. So, please read on to the history of the Christmas tree, followed by some fantastic facts about this element.

The Roots of Christmas Tree

Christmas tree was not a part of this festival since time began. It was like any other evergreen tree that remained lush throughout the year. Research about ancient lifestyles suggests that these trees symbolized the beginning of good times at the winter solstice. Days are shorter in winter and before the solstice. After the solstice, days start becoming longer again, and sunlight returns more dominantly. Therefore, people hitherto used the evergreen trees to mark the regain of the Sun’s power and the restoration of happiness. This culture was prevalent in ancient Rome and Egypt.

Embellishing the Christmas tree began in Germany in the sixteenth century. Till the 18th century, celebrating X-mas was limited to one sect of the Christian community. Thus, the decoration and glamour of the trees stayed within the German families. Things changed in England when Queen Victoria and Prince Albert began the Christmas tree tradition, and the same occurred in the print media. Prince Albert had German origin, which led to the blending of the culture with the whole world through England.

Today, people worldwide love decorating Christmas trees with garlands, baubles, shiny materials, etc. Modern advancements have resulted in decorations like electric lights and tinsel.

Interesting Facts about Christmas Trees

Read on to learn some amazing details about the X-mas tree that most of us would not be aware of.

The oldest artificial Christmas trees were made of goose feathers painted green and white. The people fixed these to wire branches and covered them around a rod to give the shape of a trunk.

In earlier times, the decorations of the X-mas tree were mostly edible items. These included wafers, sweets, gingerbread, apples, popcorn, nuts, berries, etc.

Not all countries embellish conventional fir trees. The natives of New Zealand decorate the Pohutakawa tree with red flowers on Christmas.

The Christmas tree is like a cut flower and can survive on water, even indoors. A cut-down X-mas tree can drink up to a liter of water daily and remain fresh for a month.

Like all trees are beneficial to us, so is the Christmas tree. It acts as a natural air purifier. It eliminates pollen and dust from the air.

The number of trees sold in the United States yearly is a mindboggling figure of nearly thirty million. The suppliers of these trees are primarily farms dedicated to cultivating Christmas trees. Fact says that 98% of these trees are from farms.

Most artificial X-mas trees are made in China. The material is usually PVC plastic.

The first-ever public display of the X-mas tree dates to 1510 in Riga, Latvia.

The word “Christmas tree” became official in the English language in 1835.

The tallest X-mas tree cut was a Douglas fir and measured around 221 feet. It was for display along with embellishments in the Northgate Shopping Centre in Seattle.

A Christmas tree can take nearly six to eight years to mature.

Though similar-looking, Christmas trees have many species. Some of the prominent ones are white pine, Douglas fir, Norway spruce, balsam fir, scotch pine, noble fir, Virginia pine, blue spruce, Fraser fir, and Nordmann fir.

People also used candles to beautify the X-mas trees in the 17th century.

The mass production of Christmas tree lights began in 1890 after Edward Johnson (Thomas Edison’s assistant) came up with this idea.

A Christmas tree can house around thirty thousand insects and bugs.

Most X-mas tree owners recycle the trees in their backyards after the festivity ends.

The evergreen conifers have an interesting history and even more thought-provoking facts. Many people are employed in the Christmas tree industry and what is enjoyment for us is a livelihood for them. Thus, this Christmas, adorn your Christmas trees and spread the love. Light up the conifer and let it radiate from your living room to the entire world. Have a Merry Christmas!