NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Christmas tree

A Christmas tree, Yule tree or Tannenbaum (German: fir tree) is one of the most popular traditions associated with the celebration of Christmas. It is normally an evergreen coniferous tree that is brought into a home or used in the open, and is decorated with Christmas lights and colourful ornaments during the days around Christmas. An angel or star is often placed at the top of the tree, representing the host of angels or the Star of Bethlehem from the Nativity story. A Christmas tree is a festive decoration. ... Image File history File linksMetadata JuletrÃ¦et. ... Image File history File linksMetadata JuletrÃ¦et. ... For other uses, see Tradition (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Christmas (disambiguation). ... This article is about plant types. ... Orders & Families Cordaitales â€ Pinales Pinaceae - Pine family Araucariaceae - Araucaria family Podocarpaceae - Yellow-wood family Sciadopityaceae - Umbrella-pine family Cupressaceae - Cypress family Cephalotaxaceae - Plum-yew family Taxaceae - Yew family Vojnovskyales â€ Voltziales â€ â€œConiferâ€ redirects here. ... The coniferous Coast Redwood, the tallest tree species on earth. ... Christmas lights (also sometimes called fairy lights, twinkle lights or holiday lights in the United States) are strands of electric lights used to decorate homes, public/commercial buildings and Christmas trees during the Christmas season. ... Ornament may refer to: Christmas ornament Decoration Ornament (music) Ornament (architecture) Ornamental plant Ornamental stone Human ornamentation, see: Human physical appearance Fashion Jewelry This is a disambiguation page â€” a list of articles associated with the same title. ... This article is about the supernatural being. ... This article is about the astronomical object. ... Adoration of the Magi by Florentine painter Giotto di Bondone (1267-1337). ... For the Nativity of Jesus, see Nativity of Jesus. ...

History

With likely origins in European pre-Christian cultures,^[1] the Christmas tree has gained an extensive history and become a common sight during the winter season in various countries.

Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... For other uses, see Yggdrasil (disambiguation). ... The geographic distribution of the Sigurd stones. ...

Germanic tribes

Patron trees (for example, the Irminsul, Thor's Oak and the figurative Yggdrasil) held special significance for the ancient Germanic tribes, appearing throughout historic accounts as sacred symbols and objects. According to Adam of Bremen, in Scandinavia the Germanic pagan kings sacrificed nine males (the number nine is a significant number in Norse mythology) of each species at the sacred groves every ninth year.^[2] Detail of the bent Irminsul on the Externsteine relief. ... Thors Oak was an ancient tree sacred to the Germanic tribe of the Chatti, ancestors of todays Hessians, and one of the most important sacred sites of the Germans. ... For other uses, see Yggdrasil (disambiguation). ... Thor/Donar, Germanic thunder god. ... Adam of Bremen (also: Adam Bremensis) was one of the most important German medieval chroniclers. ... For other uses, see Scandinavia (disambiguation). ... ROSIE IS A GERMN LADYGermanic paganism refers to the religion of the Germanic nations preceding Christianization. ... Numbers are significant in Norse mythology although not to the extent which they are in some traditions e. ... Sacred groves were a feature of the mythological landscape and the cult practice of Old Europe, of the most ancient levels of Scandinavian mythology, Greek mythology, Slavic mythology, Roman mythology, and in Druidic practice. ...

According to Church results, Saint Boniface (who, also according to Church records, had felled the Thor's Oak) attempted to Christianise the indigenous Germanic tribes by introducing the notion of trinity by using the cone-shaped evergreen trees because of their triangular appearance.^[3] For the Roman general of this name, see Bonifacius. ... By Germanic Christianity is that phase in the history of Northern Europe understood, when the Germanic peoples of the Migration period and Viking Age adopted Christianity. ... This article is about the Christian Trinity. ...

In the 13th century trees were nailed to the ceiling. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (900x637, 458 KB) Summary The Triumphant Return of Dionysus (c. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (900x637, 458 KB) Summary The Triumphant Return of Dionysus (c. ... This article is about the ancient deity. ... Victoria on the reverse of this coin by Constantine II. In Roman mythology, Victoria was the goddess of victory. ...

Rome

Roman mosaics from what is today Tunisia, showing the mythic triumphant return from India of the Greek god of wine and male fertility, Dionysus. The god carries a tapering coniferous tree. Ancient Rome was a civilization that grew from a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula circa the 9th century BC to a massive empire straddling the Mediterranean Sea. ... This article is about a decorative art. ... For other uses, see Wine (disambiguation). ... Fertility is the natural capability of giving life. ... This article is about the ancient deity. ...

Headline text

Medieval

Medieval legends tended to concentrate more on the miraculous "flowering" of trees at Christmas time.^{[citation needed]} A branch of flowering Glastonbury thorn is still sent annually for the Queen's Christmas table in the United Kingdom. The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times. ... Glastonbury Abbey in Glastonbury, Somerset, England, now presents itself as traditionally the oldest above-ground Christian church in the world situated in the mystical land of Avalon by dating the founding of the community of monks at 63 A.D., the legendary visit of Joseph of Arimathea who also brought...

Modern

The modern custom can be traced to 16th century Germany; Ingeborg Weber-Kellermann (Marburg professor of European ethnology) identified as the earliest reference a Bremen guild chronicle of 1570 which reports how a small fir was decorated with apples, nuts, dates, pretzels and paper flowers, and erected in the guild-house, for the benefit of the guild members' children, who collected the dainties on Christmas day. Another early reference is from Basel, where the tailor apprentices carried around town a tree decorated with apples and cheese in 1597. Image File history File links Tree1900. ... Image File history File links Tree1900. ... , Marburg is a city in Hesse, Germany, on the Lahn river. ... Ethnology (from the Greek ethnos, meaning people) is the branch of anthropology that compares and analyses the origins, distribution, technology, religion, language, and social structure of the racial or national divisions of humanity. ... This article is about the city in Germany. ... A guild is an association of craftspeople in a particular trade. ... Generally a chronicle (Latin chronica, from Greek Î§ÏÏŒÎ½Î¿Ï‚) is historical account of facts and events in chronological order. ... For other uses, see Basel (disambiguation). ...

The city of Riga, Latvia, claims to be home of the first Christmas tree; an octagonal plaque in the town square reads "The First New Year's Tree in Riga in 1510", in eight languages. Around this same time period, and subject to much debate as to whether the event occurred before the Riga holiday tree, Martin Luther is said to have decorated a small tree in house to symbolise the way the stars shined at night. During the 17th century, the custom entered family homes. One Strasbourg priest, Johann Konrad Dannerstuart, complains about the custom as distracting from the Word of God. Riga (Latvian: RÄ«ga), the capital of Latvia, is situated on the Baltic Sea coast on the mouth of River Daugava, at 56Â°58â€²N 24Â°8â€²E. Riga is the largest city in the Baltic states and serves as a major cultural, educational, political, financial, commercial and industrial center... Martin Luther (November 10, 1483 â€“ February 18, 1546) was a German monk,[1] priest, professor, theologian, and church reformer. ... For other uses, see Strasburg. ... This Gutenberg Bible is displayed by the United States Library. ...

By the early 18th century, the custom had become common in towns of the upper Rhineland, but it had not yet spread to rural areas. Wax candles are attested from the late 18th century. The Christmas tree remained confined to the upper Rhineland for a relatively long time. It was regarded as a Protestant custom by the Catholic majority along the lower Rhine and was spread there only by Prussian officials who were moved there in the wake of the Congress of Vienna in 1815. The Rhineland (Rheinland in German) is the general name for the land on both sides of the river Rhine in the west of Germany. ... Anthem PreuÃŸenlied, Heil dir im Siegerkranz (both unofficial) The Kingdom of Prussia at its greatest extent, at the time of the formation of the German Empire, 1871 Capital Berlin Government Monarchy King - 1701 â€” 1713 Frederick I (first) - 1888 â€” 1918 William II (last) Prime minister - 1848 Adolf Heinrich von Arnim... The Congress of Vienna was a conference between ambassadors, from the major powers in Europe that was chaired by the Austrian statesman Klemens Wenzel von Metternich and held in Vienna, Austria, from November 1, 1814, to June 8, 1815. ...

In the early 19th century, the custom became popular among the nobility and spread to royal courts as far as Russia. Princess Henrietta of Nassau-Weilburg introduced the Christmas tree to Vienna in 1816, and the custom spread across Austria in the following years. In France, the first Christmas tree was introduced in 1840 by the duchess of Orleans. Henrietta (Alexandrine Frederika Wilhelmine) of Nassau-Weilburg (30 October 1797 Palace Ermitage, near Bayreuth - 29 December 1829, Vienna) was the wife of Archduke Charles, Duke of Teschen. ... For other uses, see Vienna (disambiguation). ...

In Britain, the Christmas tree was introduced by King George III's German Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz but did not spread much beyond the royal family. Queen Victoria as a child was familiar with the custom. In her journal for Christmas Eve 1832, the delighted 13-year-old princess wrote, "After dinner...we then went into the drawing-room near the dining-room...There were two large round tables on which were placed two trees hung with lights and sugar ornaments. All the presents being placed round the trees...". After her marriage to her German cousin, Prince Albert, the custom became even more widespread. In 1847, Prince Albert wrote: "I must now seek in the children an echo of what Ernest [his brother] and I were in the old time, of what we felt and thought; and their delight in the Christmas-trees is not less than ours used to be". The generous Prince Stuart also presented large numbers of trees to schools and army barracks at Christmas. Images of the royal family with their Christmas tree at Osborne House were illustrated in English magazines, initially as a woodcut in the Illustrated London News of December 1848, and copied in the United States at Christmas 1850 (illustration, left). Such patriotic prints of the British royal family at Christmas celebrations helped popularise the Christmas tree in Britain and among the Anglophile American upper class. Osborne House Christmas Tree illus. ... Osborne House Christmas Tree illus. ... Osborne House and its grounds are now open to the public Osborne House is a former royal residence in East Cowes, Isle of Wight, England. ... During the 19th century, Godeys Ladys Book was a popular United States magazine among women. ... Queen Charlotte, (nÃ©e Duchess Sophia Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz; 19 May 1744 â€“ 17 November 1818) was the queen consort of George III of the United Kingdom (1738â€“1820). ... Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (Francis Charles Augustus Albert Emmanuel, of the Saxe-Coburg-Gotha branch of the House of Wettin) (26 August 1819 - 14 December 1861) was the husband and consort of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. ... Osborne House and its grounds are now open to the public Osborne House is a former royal residence in East Cowes, Isle of Wight, England. ... Four horsemen of the Apocalypse by Albrecht DÃ¼rer Ukiyo-e woodcut, Ishiyama Moon by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1889) Woodcut is a relief printing artistic technique in printmaking in which an image is carved into the surface of a block of wood, with the printing parts remaining level with the surface... The Illustrated London News was a magazine founded by Herbert Ingram and his friend Mark Lemon, the editor of Punch magazine. ...

Several cities in the United States lay claim to that country's first Christmas tree. Windsor Locks, Connecticut, claims that a Hessian soldier put up a Christmas tree in 1777 while imprisoned at the Noden-Reed House, thus making it the home of the first Christmas tree in New England. The "First Christmas Tree in America" is also claimed by Easton, Pennsylvania, where German settlers purportedly erected a Christmas tree in 1816. In his diary, Matthew Zahm of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, recorded the use of a Christmas tree in 1821 -- leading Lancaster to also lay claim to the first Christmas Tree in America. ^[4] Other accounts credit Charles Follen, a German immigrant to Boston, for being the first to introduce to America the custom of decorating a Christmas tree.^[5] August Imgard, a German immigrant living in Wooster, Ohio, is the first to popularise the practice of decorating a tree. In 1847, Imgard cut a blue spruce tree from a woods outside town, had the Wooster village tinsmith construct a star, and placed the tree in his house, decorating it with paper ornaments and candy canes. The National Confectioners' Association ^[6] officially recognises Imgard as the first ever to put candy canes on a Christmas tree; the canes were all-white, with no red stripes. Imgard is buried in the Wooster Cemetery, and every year, a large pine tree above his grave is lit with Christmas lights. Windsor Locks is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. ... Northampton Countys location in Pennsylvania Eastons location in Northampton County Coordinates: , Country State County Northampton Government - Mayor Sal Panto Jr. ... Nickname: Location of Lancaster County in Pennsylvania Location of Lancaster in Lancaster County Country United States State Pennsylvania County Lancaster Founded 1730 Incorporated March 10, 1818 Government - Mayor Rick Gray (D) Area - City 7. ... Charles Follen (September 6 1796-January 13 1840) was a German poet and patriot, who later moved to the United States and became the first professor of German at Harvard University, a Unitarian minister, and a radical abolitionist. ... Wayne County courthouse in downtown Wooster Wooster (IPA ) first syllable pronounced puss--like the cat--with a w is a city in Wayne County, Ohio, United States. ...

Many cities, towns, and department stores put up public Christmas trees outdoors for everyone to enjoy, such as the Rich's Great Tree in Atlanta, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree in New York City and the large Christmas tree at Victoria Square in Adelaide. During most of the 1970s and 1980s, the largest Christmas tree in the world was put up every year on the property of The National Enquirer in Lantana, Florida. This tradition grew into one of the most spectacular and celebrated events in the history of southern Florida, but was discontinued on the death of the paper's founder in the late 1980s. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 403 Ã— 599 pixelsFull resolution (1170 Ã— 1740 pixels, file size: 512 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 403 Ã— 599 pixelsFull resolution (1170 Ã— 1740 pixels, file size: 512 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is found in New York Citys Rockefeller Center, and is lit every December, an event usually broadcast on national television in the United States. ... Taiwanese aboriginals, tutored by Christian missionaries, celebrate with trees outside their homes. ... Taiwanese aboriginals, tutored by Christian missionaries, celebrate with trees outside their homes. ... A Rukai village Chief visiting the Department of Anthropology in Tokyo Imperial University during the Japanese rule. ... Species Cunninghamia konishii Hayata Conservation status: Endangered Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb. ... A city is an urban area, differentiated from a town, village, or hamlet by size, population density, importance, or legal status. ... Ronda, Spain Main street in Bastrop, Texas, United States, a small town A town is a community of people ranging from a few hundred to several thousands, although it may be applied loosely even to huge metropolitan areas. ... The interior of a typical Macys department store. ... The Richs Great Tree is a live, life-size, outdoor Christmas tree that has been an Atlanta tradition since 1947. ... Atlanta redirects here. ... The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is found in New York Citys Rockefeller Center, and is lit every December, an event usually broadcast on national television in the United States. ... New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ... Victoria Square is the name of several public squares around the world. ... For other uses, see Adelaide (disambiguation). ... For the technology tabloid website, see The Inquirer. ... Lantana is a town located in Palm Beach County, Florida. ... This article is about the U.S. State of Florida. ...

In some cities festivals are organised around the decoration and display of multiple trees as charity events. In some cases the trees represent special commemorative gifts, such as in Trafalgar Square in London, where the City of Oslo, Norway presents a tree to the people of London as a token of appreciation for the British support of Norwegian resistance during the Second World War; in Boston, where the tree is a gift from the province of Nova Scotia, in thanks for rapid deployment of supplies and rescuers to the 1917 ammunition ship explosion that leveled the city of Halifax; and in Newcastle upon Tyne, where the 15m-tall main civic Christmas tree is an annual gift from the city of Bergen, Norway, in thanks for the part played by soldiers from Newcastle in liberating Bergen from Nazi occupation.^[7] Festival of Trees is the name taken by a number of (apparently independent) charity events/organizations that hold annual events around Christmas time to raise money for some local charity (often, but not always, a hospital or more specifically, a childrens hospital) These events seem to be becoming more... Trafalgar Square viewed from the northeast corner. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... This article is about the capital of Norway. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki TÅjÅ Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Boston redirects here. ... Motto: Munit Haec et Altera Vincit (Latin: One defends and the other conquers) Capital Halifax Largest city Halifax Regional Municipality Official languages English (de facto) Government Lieutenant-Governor Mayann E. Francis Premier Rodney MacDonald (PC) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament House seats 11 Senate seats 10 Confederation July 1, 1867... On Thursday, December 6, 1917, the City of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, was devastated by the huge detonation of a French cargo ship, fully loaded with wartime explosives, that had accidentally collided with a Norwegian ship in The Narrows section of the Halifax Harbour. ... This article is about the city of Halifax, specifically. ... This article is about a city in the United Kingdom. ... This article is about the unit of length. ... County Hordaland District Midhordland Municipality NO-1201 Administrative centre Bergen Mayor (2004) Herman Friele (H) Official language form Neutral Area - Total - Land - Percentage Ranked 215 465 kmÂ² 445 kmÂ² 0. ... Nazism in history Nazi ideology Nazism and race Outside Germany Related subjects Lists Politics Portal Nazism or National Socialism (German: Nationalsozialismus), refers primarily to the ideology and practices of the Nazi Party (National Socialist German Workers Party, German: Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei or NSDAP) under Adolf Hitler. ...

The United States' National Christmas Tree is lit each year south of the White House in Washington, D.C. Today, the lighting of the National Tree is part of what has become a major holiday event at the White House. President Jimmy Carter lit only the crowning star atop the Tree in 1979 in honour of the Americans being held hostage in Iran; in 1980, the tree was fully lit for only 417 seconds, one second for each day the hostages had been in captivity. National Christmas Tree (December 2, 2004) The National Christmas Tree is a 40-foot (12 m) Colorado blue spruce from York, Pennsylvania, planted on the Ellipse in Washington, D.C. on October 20, 1978. ... For other uses, see White House (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Washington, D.C. (disambiguation). ... For other persons named Jimmy Carter, see Jimmy Carter (disambiguation). ... Iranian militants escort a blindfolded U.S. hostage to the media. ...

The term Charlie Brown Christmas tree is used in the USA to describe any sad-looking, malformed little tree. Some tree buyers intentionally adopt such trees, feeling sympathetic to their plights. The term comes from the appearance of Charlie Brown's Christmas tree in the TV special A Charlie Brown Christmas. This article is about the character from Peanuts. ... For the album, see A Charlie Brown Christmas (album). ...

In New Zealand, Pōhutukawa trees are described as 'natural Christmas trees', as they bloom at Christmas time, and they look like Christmas trees with their red flowers and green foliage.The christmas colours are yellow green and white. Binomial name Metrosideros excelsa Gaertn. ...

Dates

It is generally thought that Christmas trees were established in Britain after Queen Victoria's consort, Prince Albert, brought the custom over from Germany. However, there are records of small fir trees being used to decorate houses before this and sailors used to affix one to the top of the mainmast of their ships.

In Germany and northern Europe, the practice of decorating coniferous trees originated in pagan times, when the trees were seen as phallic symbols representing the fertility of the nature gods. The practice was associated with the Winter Solstice (around December 21) which was seen as the date of the rebirth of the Sun God. Tree decoration was later adopted into Christian practice after the Church set December 25th as the birth of Christ, thereby supplanting the pagan celebration of the solstice.

Traditionally, Christmas trees were not brought in and decorated until Christmas Eve (24 December), and then removed the day after twelfth night (i.e., 6 January); to have a tree up before or after these dates was even considered bad luck. Modern commercialisation of Christmas has resulted in trees being put up much earlier; in shops often as early as late October (in the UK, Selfridge's Christmas department is up by early September, complete with Christmas trees). A common tradition in U.S. homes is to put the tree up right after Thanksgiving (the fourth Thursday in November) and to take it down right after the New Year.^{[citation needed]} Some households in the U.S. do not put up the tree until the second week of December, and leave it up until the 6th of January (Epiphany). In Germany, traditionally the tree is put up 24th of December and taken down 7th of January, though many start one or two weeks earlier and in Roman-Catholic areas the tree may be kept until late January. In Australia, the Christmas tree is usually put up on the 1st of December, which occurs about a week before the school summer holidays; except for South Australia, where most people put up their tree after the Adelaide Credit Union Christmas Pageant, which is in early November. Some traditions suggest that Christmas trees may be kept up until no later than the 2nd of February, the feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple (Candlemas), when the Christmas season effectively closes.^[8] Superstitions warn of negative consequences if Christmas greenery is not removed by Candlemas Eve.^[9] Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 450 Ã— 600 pixelsFull resolution (1704 Ã— 2272 pixels, file size: 2. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 450 Ã— 600 pixelsFull resolution (1704 Ã— 2272 pixels, file size: 2. ... The Christmas Eve (1904-05), watercolor painting by the Swedish painter Carl Larsson (1853-1919) Christmas Eve, the evening of December 24th, the preceding day or vigil before Christmas Day, is treated to a greater or a lesser extent in most Christian societies as part of the Christmas season. ... is the 358th day of the year (359th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Twelfth Night is a holiday in some branches of Christianity marking the coming of the Epiphany, concluding the Twelve Days of Christmas, and is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as the evening of the fifth of January, preceding Twelfth Day, the eve of the Epiphany, formerly the last day... is the 6th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Retail redirects here. ... Selfridges is a chain of department stores in the United Kingdom. ... For the Canadian holiday, see Thanksgiving (Canada). ... For other uses, see New Year (disambiguation). ... The Wise Men (Magi) adoring the infant Jesus. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Presentation of Jesus at the Temple. ...

Download high resolution version (1134x1988, 388 KB)Picture of a Christmas Tree Taken by →Raul654 on December 27, 2004. ... Download high resolution version (1134x1988, 388 KB)Picture of a Christmas Tree Taken by →Raul654 on December 27, 2004. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

Types of trees used

Natural trees

The best species for use are species of fir (Abies), which have the major benefit of not shedding the needles when they dry out, as well as good foliage colour and scent; but species in other genera are also used. Commonly used species in northern Europe are: For other uses, see Species (disambiguation). ... FIR may stand for: finite impulse response (a property of some digital filters) far infrared, i. ... For other uses, see Genus (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ...

and in North America and Central America: Binomial name Abies alba Mill. ... Binomial name Abies nordmanniana (Steven) Spach Nordmann Fir Abies nordmanniana is a fir native to the mountains south and east of the Black Sea, in Turkey, Georgia, Russian Caucasus and northern parts of Armenia. ... Binomial name Abies procera Rehder Do not believe anything written here. ... Binomial name Picea abies (L.) H. Karst. ... Binomial name Picea omorika (PanÄiÄ‡) Purk. ... Binomial name L. Distribution The Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.; family Pinaceae) is a species of pine native to Europe and Asia, ranging from Great Britain and Spain east to eastern Siberia, south to the Caucasus Mountains, and as far north as Lapland. ... North America North America is a continent [1] in the Earths northern hemisphere and (chiefly) western hemisphere. ... For other uses, see Central America (disambiguation). ...

Several other species are used to a lesser extent. Less-traditional conifers are sometimes used, such as Giant Sequoia, Leyland Cypress and Eastern Juniper. Various types of spruce tree are also used for Christmas trees; but spruce trees (unlike firs) begin to lose their needles rapidly upon being cut, and many spruces, such as the Blue Spruce have very sharp needles, making decorating uncomfortable. Virginia Pine is still available on some tree farms in the southeastern United States, however its winter colour is faded. The long-needled Eastern White Pine is also used there, though it is an unpopular Christmas tree in most parts of the country, owing also to its faded winter coloration and limp branches, making decorating difficult with all but the lightest ornaments. Norfolk Island pine is sometimes used, particularly in Oceania, and in Australia some species of the genera Casuarina and Allocasuarina are also occasionally used as Christmas trees. Hemlock species are generally considered unsuitable as Christmas trees due to their poor needle retention and inability to support the weight of lights and ornaments. Binomial name Abies balsamea (L.) Mill. ... Binomial name Abies fraseri (Pursh) Poir. ... Binomial name Abies grandis (Douglas ex D. Don) Lindley Grand Fir or Giant Fir (Abies grandis) is a fir native to the Pacific Northwest of North America, occurring at altitudes of sea level to 1,800 m. ... ((taxobox | Color = lightgreen | Name = Abies guatemalensis | Status = LR/lc | Regnum = Plantae | Division = Pinophyta | Class = Pinopsida | Order = pinales | Family = pinaceae | Genus = Abies | Species = Abies Guatemalensis abies guatemalensis var. ... Binomial name Abies procera Rehder Do not believe anything written here. ... Binomial name Abies magnifica A.Murray The Red Fir (Abies magnifica) is a western North American fir, native to the mountains of southwest Oregon and California in the United States. ... Binomial name Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb. ... Binomial name L. Distribution The Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.; family Pinaceae) is a species of pine native to Europe and Asia, ranging from Great Britain and Spain east to eastern Siberia, south to the Caucasus Mountains, and as far north as Lapland. ... Binomial name Pinus pinea L. The Stone Pine (Pinus pinea; family Pinaceae) is a species of pine native of southern Europe, primarily the Iberian Peninsula. ... Binomial name Sequoiadendron giganteum (Lindl. ... Species Cupressus Ã— leylandii also: Cupressus Ã— notabilis Cupressus Ã— ovensii The Leyland Cypress, Cupressus Ã— leylandii, is often referred to as just Leylandii. ... Binomial name Juniperus virginiana L. The Eastern Juniper (Juniperus virginiana), is a widespread North American species of juniper, often also called Eastern Redcedar (though it is unrelated to the cedars). ... Species About 35; see text. ... Binomial name Picea pungens Engelm. ... Headline text rose rox my sox in a shoebox The Virginia Pine (Pinus virginiana) is a medium-sized tree, often found on poorer soils from Long Island in southern New York south through the Appalachian Mountains to western Tennessee and Alabama. ... Binomial name L. Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus) is a large pine native to eastern North America, occurring from Newfoundland west to Minnesota and southeastern Manitoba, and south along the Appalachian Mountains to the extreme north of Georgia. ... Binomial name Araucaria heterophylla (Salisb. ... For other uses, see Oceania (disambiguation). ... Selected species Casuarina cunninghamiana Casuarina equisetifolia Casuarina glauca Casuarina is a genus of shrubs and trees in the Family Casuarinaceae, native to Australia and islands of the Pacific. ... Species List of Allocasuarina species Allocasuarina is a genus in the flowering plant family Casuarinaceae, found primarily in southern Australia. ... Species Eastern Hemlock Carolina Hemlock Taiwan Hemlock Northern Japanese Hemlock Himalayan Hemlock Forrests Hemlock Western Hemlock Mountain Hemlock Southern Japanese Hemlock Tsuga is a genus of conifers in the family Pinaceae. ...

Some trees are sold live with roots and soil, often from a nursery, to be planted later outdoors and enjoyed (and often decorated) for years or decades. However, the combination of root loss on digging, and the indoor environment of high temperature and low humidity is very detrimental to the tree's health, and the survival rate of these trees is low. These trees must be kept inside only for a few days, as the warmth will bring them out of dormancy, leaving them little protection when put back outside into the midwinter cold in most areas. Others are produced in a container and sometimes as topiary for a porch or patio. A nursery is a place where plants are propagated, usually for sale as a business, though some gardeners and farmers keep private nurseries. ... For other uses, see Temperature (disambiguation). ... Humidity is the amount of water vapor in air. ... Dormancy is a arrested plant growth. ... A topiary dinosaur at Epcot Topiary is the art of creating sculptures in the medium of shrubbery, after the Latin word for an ornamental landscape gardener, toparius. ...

European tradition prefers the open aspect of naturally-grown, unsheared trees, while in North America (outside western areas where trees are often wild-harvested on public lands^[10]) there is a preference for close-sheared trees with denser foliage, but less space to hang decorations. The shearing also damages the highly attractive natural symmetry of unsheared trees. In the past, Christmas trees were often harvested from wild forests, but now almost all are commercially grown on tree farms. Sphere symmetry group o. ... A sugarcane plantation at Ribeirão Preto, Brazil, 2005 A plantation is a large tract of monoculture, as a tree plantation, a cotton plantation, a tea plantation or a tobacco plantation. ...

Almost all Christmas trees in the United States are grown on Christmas tree farms where they are cut after about ten years of growth and new trees planted. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) agriculture census for 2002 (the census is done every five years) there were 21,904 farms were producing conifers for the cut Christmas Tree market in America, 180,897 hectares (447,006 acres) were planted in Christmas Trees, and 13,849 farms harvested cut trees. The top 5% of the farms (40 ha / 100 acres or more) sold 61% of the trees. The top 26% of the farms (8 ha / 20 acres or more) sold 84 percent of the trees. Farms less than 0.8 ha (two acres) comprised 21% of the farms, and sold an average of 115 trees per farm^[11]

In the UK, The British Christmas Tree Growers Association represents the interests of all those who grow Christmas trees in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The British Christmas Tree Growers Association is the trade association for those who grow specialist Christmas Trees in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. ... Northern Ireland (Irish: , Ulster Scots: Norlin Airlann) is a constituent country of the United Kingdom lying in the northeast of the island of Ireland, covering 5,459 square miles (14,139 kmÂ², about a sixth of the islands total area). ...

The lifecycle of a Christmas tree from the seed to a 2-metre (7 ft) 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. The remaining development of the tree greatly depends on the climate, soil quality, as well as the cultivation and tendance by the Christmas tree farmer.^[12]

Artificial trees

Artificial trees have become increasingly popular, as they are considered more convenient and (if used for several years) less expensive than real trees, as well as less wasteful than cutting down real trees. Trees come in a number of colours and "species", and some come pre-decorated with lights. At the end of the Christmas season artificial trees can be disassembled and stored compactly. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links The New World Centre shopping mall in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong, China on Christmas, 2004. ... Image File history File links The New World Centre shopping mall in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong, China on Christmas, 2004. ...

Artificial trees are sometimes even a necessity in some rented homes (especially apartment flats), due to the potential fire danger from a dried-out real tree, leading to their prohibition by some landlords. They may also be necessary for people who have an allergy to conifers, and are increasingly popular in office settings^{[citation needed]}. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For other uses, see Fire (disambiguation). ... A landlord, is the owner of a house, apartment, condominium, or real estate which is rented or leased to an individual or business, who is called the tenant. ... Allergy is an abnormal reaction to a substance foreign to the body that is acquired, predictable and rapid. ...

Feather trees

The first artificial trees were tabletop feather trees, made from green-dyed goose feathers wound onto sticks drilled into a larger one, like the branches on a tree. Originating in Germany in the 19th century to prevent further deforestation, these "minimalist" trees show off small ornaments very well. The first feather trees came to the U.S. in 1913, in the Sears, Roebuck and Company catalog. Look up dye in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Geese redirects here. ... Two feathers Feathers are one of the epidermal growths that form the distinctive outer covering, or plumage, on birds. ... This article is about the process of deforestation in the environment. ... For other uses, see Minimalism (disambiguation). ... Sears Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: SHLD) is the fourth largest retailer in the United States, behind Wal-Mart, The Home Depot, and Kroger. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Mail order. ...

Modern trees

The first modern artificial Christmas trees were produced by companies which made brushes. They were made the same way, using animal hair (mainly pig bristles) and later plastic bristles, dyed pine-green in colour, inserted between twisted wires that form the branches. The bases of the branches were then twisted together to form a large branch, which was then inserted by the user into a wooden pole (now metal with plastic rings) for a trunk. Each row of branches is a different size, colour-coded at the base with paint or stickers for ease of assembly. For other uses, see Brush (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Pig (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Plastic (disambiguation). ...

The first trees looked like long-needled pine trees, but later trees use flat PVC sheets to make the needles. Many also have very short brown "needles" wound in with the longer green ones, to imitate the branch itself or the bases that each group of pine (but not other conifer) needles grows from. These trees have become a little more realistic every year, with a few deluxe trees containing multiple branch styles and newly developed True Needle technology to more closely imitate nature. Many trees now come in "slim" versions, to fit in smaller spaces. Most of the better trees have branches hinged to the pole, though the less-expensive ones generally still come separately. The hinged branched trees just need for the branches to be lowered, but they are a little less compact. Better trees also have more branch tips, the number usually listed on the box. Polyvinyl chloride Polyvinyl chloride, (IUPAC Polychloroethene) commonly abbreviated PVC, is a widely used thermoplastic polymer. ... Deluxe is Better Than Ezras first album because Surprise was a demo album. ...

Around 2003, some trees with moulded plastic branches started selling in the U.S. Now there are also upside down Christmas trees. These Christmas trees are advertised to "Give you more space for presents". It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Christmas trees. ...

Designer trees

The first artificial trees that were not green were the metallic trees, introduced about 1958, and quite popular through the 1960s. These were made of aluminium attached to metal rods, supported on wooden or aluminium central poles. Some were made with aluminium-coated paper, which was flammable. These posed a great fire hazard if lights were put directly on them, particularly the relatively hot bulbs sold in that era; warnings to this effect are still issued with some Christmas tree lights. They were instead lit by a spotlight or floodlight, often with a motorised rotating colour wheel in front of them. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (480x640, 99 KB) Branches of a vintage aluminum Christmas tree, lit by a rotating color wheel. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (480x640, 99 KB) Branches of a vintage aluminum Christmas tree, lit by a rotating color wheel. ... For alternative meanings see metal (disambiguation). ... Aluminum redirects here. ... For other uses, see Paper (disambiguation). ... Edisons classical searchlight cart. ... Modern stage lighting is a flexible tool in the production of theatre, dance, opera and other performance arts. ... For other kinds of motors, see motor. ... In the arts of painting, and photography, color theory is a set of basic rules for mixing color to achieve a desired result. ...

More recent tinsel trees can be used safely with lights, due to the use of flame retardant materials as well as improvements in the safety of the Christmas tree lights themselves. Socks made from flame retardant cotton. ...

Other artificial trees may look nothing like a conifer except for the triangular or conical shape. These may be made from cardboard, glass, plastic, or from stacked items such as ornaments. Such items are often used as tabletop decorations. Paperboard is a paper-like material, usually over ten mils (0. ...

Outdoor trees

Outdoor branched trees made out of heavy white-enameled steel wires have become more popular on U.S. lawns in the 2000s, along with 1990s spiral ones that hang from a central pole, both styles being lighted with standard miniature lights. These lights are usually white, but often are green, red, red/green, blue/white, blue, or multicoloured, and sometimes with a small controller to fade colours back and forth. The enameled wire is a thin wire with a plastic coverage used for made the electric motor coils. ... For other uses, see Steel (disambiguation). ... A lawn is an area of recreational or amenity land planted with grass, and sometimes clover and other plants, which are maintained at a low, even height. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

A few hotels and other buildings, both public and private, will string lights up from the roof to the top of a small tower on top of the building, so that at night it appears as a lit Christmas tree, often using green or other coloured lights. Some skyscrapers will tell certain offices to leave their lights on (and others off) at night during December, creating a Christmas tree pattern. For other uses, see Hotel (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Skyscraper (disambiguation). ...

Other gimmicks

Since the late 1990s, many indoor artificial trees come pre-strung with lights. Some are instead lit partly or completely by fibre optics, with the light in the base, and a rotating colour wheel causing various colours to shimmer across the tree. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2048x3072, 927 KB) Summary An artificial Christmas tree with both conversional and fiber-optic lights. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2048x3072, 927 KB) Summary An artificial Christmas tree with both conversional and fiber-optic lights. ... Fiber Optic strands An optical fiber in American English or fibre in British English is a transparent thin fiber for transmitting light. ...

In 2005 Upside-Down Christmas Trees became popular. They were originally sold as decorations for merchants that allowed customers to get closer to ornaments being sold. Customers then wanted to replicate the inverted tree. Retailers also claimed that the trees were popular because they allowed larger presents to be placed beneath the trees. Upside-down Christmas trees come in three varieties: stand-alone, ceiling, and wall. The stand-alone trees have a flat base. Ceiling trees have a base that can be bolted into a ceiling, and wall trees are generally half of a tree, that are bolted to a wall.

Past gimmicks include small talking or singing trees, and trees which blow "snow" (actually small styrofoam beads) over themselves, collecting them in a decorative cardboard bin at the bottom and blowing them back up to the top through a tube hidden next to the trunk. Styrofoam is a trademark name for polystyrene thermal insulation material, manufactured by Dow Chemical Company. ... Paperboard is a paper-like material, usually over ten mils (0. ...

A long-standing and simple gimmick is conifer seedlings sold with cheap decorations attached by soft pipe cleaners. Real potted ones are often sold like this, and artificial ones often come with a "root ball" but only sometimes with decorations. A ripe red jalapeÃ±o cut open to show the seeds For other uses, see Seed (disambiguation). ... A plain white pipe cleaner. ...

Environmental issues

There is some debate as to whether artificial or real trees are better for the natural environment. Artificial trees are usually made out of PVC, a toxic material which is often stabilised with lead. Some trees have a warning that dust or leaves from the tree should not be eaten or inhaled. A small amount of real-tree material is used in some artificial trees. For instance, the bark of a real tree can be used to surface an artificial trunk. Polyethylene trees are less toxic, though more expensive, than PVC trees.^[13] This article is about the natural environment. ... Polyvinyl chloride Polyvinyl chloride, (IUPAC Polychloroethene) commonly abbreviated PVC, is a widely used thermoplastic polymer. ... This article is about the metal. ... For other uses, see Bark (disambiguation). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Artificial trees can be used for many years, but are usually non-recyclable, ending up in landfills. Real trees are used only for a short time, but can be recycled and used as mulch or used to prevent erosion.^[14] Real trees also help reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere while growing. Look up landfill in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... In agriculture and gardening, mulch is a protective cover placed over the soil, primarily to modify the effects of the local climate. ... For morphological image processing operations, see Erosion (morphology). ... Carbon dioxide is a chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalently bonded to a single carbon atom. ... Air redirects here. ...

Live trees are typically grown as a crop and replanted in rotation after cutting, often providing suitable habitat for wildlife. In some cases management of Christmas tree crops can result in poor habitat since it involves heavy input of pesticides. Organically grown Christmas trees are available in some markets, and as with many other crops, are widely held to be better for the environment. For other uses, see crop (disambiguation). ... Habitat (which is Latin for it inhabits) is the place where a particular species live and grow. ... A cropduster spreading pesticide. ... Organic farming is a psuedoscientific form of agriculture which avoids or largely excludes the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, plant growth regulators, and livestock feed additives. ...

Decoration and ornaments

Tinsel and several types of garland or ribbon are commonly used to decorate a Christmas tree. Delicate mould-blown and painted coloured glass Christmas ornaments were a specialty of Czech and Polish glass factories from the late 19th century, and have since become a large industry, complete with famous-name designers. Lighting with candles or electric lights (fairy lights) is commonly done, and a tree topper completes the ensemble. Strands of tinsel may be hung in groups from longer branches to simulate icicles, though this trend has gradually fallen off since the late 1970s, due primarily to a cessation of the manufacture of metal tinsel because of environmental concerns. This was replaced with silvered saran based tinsel, which many have found to be unsatisfactory, leading to the demise of tinsel in tree decorating in the United States (it remains popular in many European countries). Baubles are another extremely common decoration, and usually consist of a fairly small hollow glass or plastic sphere coated with a thin metallic layer to make them reflective, and then with a further coating of a thin pigmented polymer in order to provide coloration. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (827x581, 520 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Christmas tree Bauble Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (827x581, 520 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Christmas tree Bauble Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used... Christmas ornament Christmas ornaments are decorations (usually made of glass, metal, wood or ceramics) that are used to festoon a Christmas tree. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For a monthly Japanese shÅjo manga magazine, see Ribon. ... Christmas bauble (called a Christmas ball in American English) Christmas ornaments are decorations (usually made of glass, metal, wood or ceramics) that are used to festoon a Christmas tree. ... For other uses, see Candle (disambiguation). ... Fairy Lights are a type of decoration that are especially popular at Christmas. ... A tree topper is a decorative star, angel or other item which is placed on the crown of a Christmas tree. ... Icicle on a tree Icicles on a bush Icicle on a roof Close up of an icicle A large icicle Icicle (yacht) is also the name of the largest Ice yacht An icicle is a spike of ice formed when water dripping or falling from another object freezes. ... Look up trend, trendy in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Saran may refer to: Locations: Saran, Kazakhstan (Ð¡Ð°Ñ€Ð°Ð½ÑŒ), a city in Kazakhstan Saran, Loiret, a commune of the Loiret Department, France Saran District, Bihar, India Saran Division, Bihar, India People: Saran, a clan of Jats in India Saran (director), a Tamil film director Shyam Saran (b. ... Christmas ornament Christmas ornaments are decorations (usually made of glass, metal, wood or ceramics) that are used to festoon a Christmas tree. ...

Individuals' decorations vary widely, typically being an eclectic mix of family traditions and personal tastes; even a small unattractive ornament, if passed down from a parent or grandparent, may come to carry considerable emotional value and be given pride of place on the tree. Conversely, trees decorated by professional designers for department stores and other institutions will usually have a "theme"; a set of predominant colours, multiple instances of each type of ornament, and larger decorations that may be more complicated to set up correctly. Some churches decorate with Chrismon trees, which use handmade ornaments depicting various Chrismon symbols. The interior of a typical Macys department store. ... Chrismon Trees are a popular variation of the Christmas tree developed by Frances Kipps Spencer, a member of the Ascension Lutheran Church in Danville, Virginia. ... This article is about Christian symbolism. ...

Many people also decorate outdoor trees with food that birds and other wildlife will enjoy, such as garlands made from unsalted popcorn or cranberries, orange halves, and seed-covered suet cakes. For other uses, see Bird (disambiguation). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For other uses, see Popcorn (disambiguation). ... â€œCranberriesâ€ redirects here. ... Binomial name (L.) Osbeck Orangeâ€”specifically, sweet orangeâ€”refers to the citrus tree Citrus sinensis (syn. ... Suet is raw beef or mutton fat, especially that found around the loins and kidneys. ...

Tree mats and skirts

Since candles were used to light trees until electric bulbs came about, a mat (UK) or "skirt" (US) was often placed on the floor below the tree to protect it by catching the dripping candle wax, and also to collect any needles that fall. Even when dripless candles, electric lights and artificial trees have been used, a skirt is still usually used as a decorative feature: among other things, it hides the tree stand, which may be unsightly but which is an important safety feature of home trees. What began as ordinary cloth has now often become much more ornate, some having embroidery or being put together like a quilt. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (768x1024, 140 KB) Picture of a Christmas tree of poinsettias from http://pdphoto. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (768x1024, 140 KB) Picture of a Christmas tree of poinsettias from http://pdphoto. ... Binomial name Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ... Flag Seal Nickname: Americas Finest City Location Location of San Diego within San Diego County Coordinates , Government County San Diego Mayor City Attorney City Council District One District Two District Three District Four District Five District Six District Seven District Eight Jerry Sanders (R) Michael Aguirre Scott Peters Kevin... For other uses, see Candle (disambiguation). ... A mat is a generic term for a piece of fabric or flat material, generally placed on a floor or other flat surface, and serving a range of purposes including: providing a regular or flat surface, such as a mouse mat protecting that which is beneath the mat, such as... A skirt is a traditionally feminine tube- or cone-shaped garment which is worn from the waist and covers the legs. ... candle wax This page is about the substance. ... Categories: Stub ... It has been suggested that Textile be merged into this article or section. ... Embroidery in silk thread on linen, 19th century Embroidery is the art or handicraft of decorating fabric or other materials with designs stitched in strands of thread or yarn using a needle. ... A quilt is a type of puppy with long fluffy ears. ...

A nativity scene, model train, or Christmas village may be placed on the mat or skirt. As Christmas presents arrive, they are generally placed underneath the tree on the tree skirt (depending on tradition, all Christmas gifts, or those too large to be hung on the tree, as in "presents on the tree" of the song "I'll Be Home for Christmas"). A traditional nativity scene from Naples, Italy A nativity scene, also called a crib or crÃ¨che (meaning crib or manger in French) generally refers to any depiction of the birth or birthplace of Jesus. ... This article needs cleanup. ... A Department 56 New England series village display A Christmas village (or putz) is a decorative, miniature-scale village often set up during the Christmas season. ... Ill Be Home for Christmas is a Christmas song, written by Walter Kent, with Illlll Be home for christmas. ...

Generally, the difference between a mat and skirt is simply that a mat is placed under the tree stand, while a skirt is placed over it, having a hole in the middle for the trunk, with a slot cut to the outside edge so that it can be placed around the tree (beneath the branches) easily. A plain mat of fabric or plastic may also be placed under the stand and skirt to protect the floor from scratches or water. Impact from a water drop causes an upward rebound jet surrounded by circular capillary waves. ...

Flocking

In the 1940s and 1950s flocking was very popular on the West Coast of the United States. There were home flocking kits that could be used with vacuum cleaners. In the 1980s some trees were sprayed with fluffy white flocking to simulate snow. Typically it would be sprayed all over the tree from the sides, which produced a look different from real snow, which settles in clumps atop branches. Flocking can be done with a professional sprayer at a tree lot (or the manufacturer if it is artificial), or at home from a spray can, and either can be rather messy. This tradition seems to be most popular on the West Coast and Southern parts of the United States. Flocking is a type of texture applied to a surface. ...

Because flock contains flame retardants, a flocked tree can be placed in a public building in accordance with local fire codes.

Controversy

The Christmas tree has seen an amount of controversy, mainly involving the secular and non-secular usage of the tree as well as groups who oppose usage of the tree on the grounds of interpretation of scripture and claimed pagan origins and/or pagan character of the custom. There are also those who view it as a Christian symbol. Image File history File links Question_book-3. ...

Christianity

[1] Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel: [2] Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. [3] For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. [4] They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. [5] They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.

This is interpreted by some Christians as referring to a Christmas tree, and that therefore the Bible would explicitly forbid the practice. However, the more common interpretation is that the passage refers to idol worship, and it is the practice of making an object out of wood, silver, and gold, and then worshiping that idol, which is pagan. The Adoration of the Golden Calf by Nicolas Poussin Idolatry is a major sin in the Abrahamic religions regarding image. ...

Catholic countries

In some Catholic countries, the tree is seen as a recent Protestant or American influence detracting from the Mediterranean traditions of the Christmas crib, though the tree is not a Protestant practice or even biblical.^{[citation needed]} However in many Catholic homes, both types of decoration coexist. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (457x617, 62 KB) // DescripciÃ³n: Aeropuerto de Bilbao-Lujua, Vizcaya, EspaÃ±a. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (457x617, 62 KB) // DescripciÃ³n: Aeropuerto de Bilbao-Lujua, Vizcaya, EspaÃ±a. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Refers to internal domination by one group and its culture/ideology over others. ... A traditional nativity scene from Naples, Italy A nativity scene (usually capitalized if referring to the birth of Jesus), also called a crib or crèche (meaning crib or manger in French) generally refers to any depiction of the birth or birthplace of Jesus. ...

Judaism

Jewish parents in Christian societies may find that their children feel missing out during the Christmas season. This has led to the increasing importance of the Hannukah celebrations, initially a minor Jewish Festival, when children now receive gifts and toys instead of the gelt of Ashkenazi tradition. Some mixed-religion families or those wanting to blend better with their Christian environment will dub their trees "Hannukah bushes". Typically, these trees will incorporate a Jewish motif, with blue color schemes and ornaments featuring menorahs, dreidels and other typical symbols of Hannukah. Chanukah (חנכה ḥănukkāh, or חנוכה ḥănūkkāh) is a Jewish holiday, also known as the Festival of lights. ... A Jewish holiday or Jewish Festival is a day or series of days observed by Jews as holy or secular commemorations of important events in Jewish history. ... Gelt, means money in Yiddish and German (in which it is spelt Geld). Chanukkah gelt (Hanukkah money) is used as part of a game on the Jewish festival of Hanukkah Categories: | ... Hanukkah bush is a name for a decorated tree, similar or identical to a Christmas tree, placed in a Jewish home during the winter holiday season. ... This article is about the seven branched candelabrum used in the Temple in Jerusalem. ... Dreidel A dreidel (Hebrew: ×¡×‘×™×‘×•×Ÿ, ) is a four-sided top, played with during the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. ...

Industry

Each year, 33 to 36 million Christmas trees are produced in America, and 50 to 60 million are produced in Europe. In 1998, there were about 15,000 growers in America (a third of them "choose and cut" farms). In that same year, it was estimated that Americans spent $1.5 billion on Christmas trees.^[15] A Christmas tree farmer in the U.S. state of Florida explains the pruning and shearing process of cultivation to a government employee. ...

Contents

History

Germanic tribes

Rome

Headline text

Medieval

Modern

Dates

Types of trees used

Natural trees

Artificial trees

Feather trees

Modern trees

Designer trees

Outdoor trees

Other gimmicks

Environmental issues

Decoration and ornaments

Tree mats and skirts

Flocking

Controversy

Christianity

Catholic countries

Judaism

Industry

See also

References

External links

Contents

History var ACE_AR = {Site: '756743', Size: '300250'};

Germanic tribes

Rome

Headline text

Medieval

Modern

Dates

Types of trees used

Natural trees

Artificial trees

Feather trees

Modern trees

Designer trees

Outdoor trees

Other gimmicks

Environmental issues

Decoration and ornaments

Tree mats and skirts

Flocking

Controversy

Christianity

Catholic countries

Judaism

Industry

See also

References

External links

History