Where to buy a Christmas tree in New York City?
Many of you have been adorning your Christmas trees with baubles, lights, and beautiful ornaments for decades, but why do you have Christmas trees in the first place? And from whence does this custom come?
Evergreen trees have been brought indoors to celebrate winter festivities for thousands of years, both by Pagans and Christians. During the winter solstice, pagans would use tree branches to adorn their dwellings as a sign of the approaching spring.
Romans also utilized fir trees to decorate their temples during the Saturnalia festival, while Christians viewed them as a symbol of eternal life with God.
The custom of adorning Christmas trees is also widely linked to Germany, where many Christians started. Those without access to trees or who couldn’t afford them would create their inventive substitutes using wooden pyramids.
Early Christmas trees in Germany featured wonderful edible ornaments like gingerbread men and apples wrapped in gold (glass makers would also hang special small ornaments they had crafted themselves).
What does the Christmas tree symbolize?
Plants and trees held a unique significance for many people during the chilly winter months before Christianity. Ancient tribes used to beautify their homes by hanging evergreen boughs across their entrances; many even believed that doing so could ward off witches, evil spirits, and sickness.
Pope John Paul referred to the Christmas tree as a “symbol of Christ” in 2004. He claimed that this age-old custom elevates life’s worth and reminds Christians of the biblical allegory of the “tree of life” contained in Genesis.
How have Christmas trees changed now?
Like the first Christmas trees, you continue to use baubles and string lights to ornament your tree. Although many families still buy real Christmas trees, the popularity of artificial trees — especially pre-lit trees — has grown over time as people choose hassle-free, minimal-maintenance trees that they can use year after year. With the rise in popularity to buy Christmas trees, there have also been several fads, including rainbow and sunflower trees, as well as a variety of styles to fit different interiors, from a snowy flocked Christmas tree in the form of a winter wonderland to fun pink Christmas trees.
Real vs. Fake
Nothing makes you feel merrier than the invigorating aroma of a real Christmas tree, and the ritual of selecting one is just as significant as decorating one. The most well-liked tree is fir. Strong symmetrical branches and exceptional needle retention make the dark green foliage ideal for hanging decorations, so buy a Christmas tree.
Artificial trees are viewed as a less environmentally responsible option due to the carbon emissions they make during manufacturing and the fact that they are composed of plastic, which has a significant carbon footprint. Before the carbon footprint of an artificial Christmas tree is comparable to the entire carbon footprint of purchasing, then burning, a real tree each year for a decade, it must be in use for at least 10 years.
Alternative trees
In recent years, the artificial Christmas tree has come into its own. Each year, ornamental twig Christmas trees and eco-friendly wooden Christmas trees (which may also be used year-round) rise in popularity. Some homes even adorn a houseplant as a Christmas tree instead of buying a tree.
You might think about looking for and purchasing a Christmas tree a little earlier in November if you are not constrained by any of these or other personal preferences. An early purchase will benefit from reduced competition for better quality Christmas tree options and, if adequately exhibited and watered, may ultimately result in a fresher holiday tree.
