Christmas Trees
Christmas trees are part of the American and the world experience when
celebrating Christmas.
It has been taken into belief of most that the christmas tree has started
in Germany in the mid 700's. The evergreen trees represented life. It
is during the time of Christmas, in which the birth of Jesus Christ
is celebrated that these trees are decorated and taken into homes. These
trees represent the life of Jesus Christ and how He still live on today.
They became known as the "Christ Tree" until the celebration
became known as Christmas. Then it was the Christmas Tree.
Ancients would bring evergreen leaves on the night of December 21, the
shortest day of the year. They did this because they wanted the sun
god to get well and they thought the green leaves of evergreens would
better the god.
The Yule Log Tradition.A tradition more than a thousand years old is
"Bringing in the Yule log". It began in Great Britian and
spread through Europe. On the Eve of Christmas, the entire family would
pull in a large central trunk of a tree into the house. After this,
it would be placed in the fireplace and burn for Christmas. The log
became superstitous among some. They said it must take one match to
light it or your house would have a bad spell. Others say you must light
the fire with coals and ashes from the year before to ensure safety
in the house. People in Spain came to know the log as a log to drive
away evil spirits. Some traditions were that people would dress the
log in flowers and needles. Soon it became the evergreen tree, taken
into the house and decorated. The most common "yule log" today
is the Yule Log cake which is made to look like a traditional log.
In many countries thousands of years ago, people would decorate their
houses with evergreen leaves and branches to keep away ghosts, witches,
sickness, and evil spirits.
In Germany, to teach the Christmas story of the Bible, they did "miracle
plays". They were plays to teach about the Garden of Eden and Adam
and Eve. This took place yearly on Dec. 24. They would decorate evergreens
with apples to represent the forbidden fruit. This is how Christmas
got the name Christmas EVE and the colors red and green.
German Martin Luther is said to be the first to bring the tree indoor
decorated with candles to show his children what stars looked like at
night in the forest. He had been walking home and was amazed at the
beauty of the stars. This is why he did it. This grew into America and
now people light their trees with much more than candles(lights).
Information above provided by David
CHRISTMAS TREE--LIVE
Live Christmas trees should NOT be brought indoors for more than three
(3) days, and then only if room temperatures are kept on the cool side.
A hole to plant the tree should be dug as soon as possible before the
ground freezes. The soil should be kept from freezing, either covering
it with mulch or moving it into a warm location, such as a heated garage.
Live Christmas trees are usually ball-and-burlapped specimens; common
trees are scotch pine, white pine, blue spruce and Douglas fir.
Keep trees cool and dormant until ready to use. If possible, tag trees
at the nursery or garden center early, but pick up or have delivered
a day or two before Christmas.
Indoors, keep trees cool and away from heat sources such as fireplaces
and registers. Make sure to use only cool lights; any type of warmth
may force the tree out of dormancy which means severe winter injury
when transplanted outside.
As soon as Christmas is over, move the tree to an unheated garage or
building to acclimatize it to outside temperature, then plant the tree
outside. Backfill with soil and warm water. Mulch the soil thoroughly
with a foot of mulch to prevent the soil from freezing quickly. The
warm soil will induce root development and establishment. Do not use
fertilizer.
Information above provided by the University
of Illinois
CHRISTMAS TREE--PRESERVATIVES
Water is still the best preservative for Christmas trees. Make sure
trees have a 1 inch fresh cut. ALWAYS keep the Christmas tree stand
basin filled with water. If the tree absorbs all the water, the basin
is empty and you haven't noticed, a fresh cut needs to be made on the
tree, even if that means taking all the decorations off.
Aspirins, copper pennies, uncolas, sugar and bleach have not been shown
to prolong the life of a tree.
Information above provided by the University
of Illinois
CHRISTMAS TREE--ROOTING
Cut Christmas trees will NOT form roots and should be discarded as
soon as needles start falling.
Occasionally, Christmas trees will develop new shoots and plants appear
to be actively growing for several months. However, no records indicate
any cut trees ever rooting.
Information above provided by the University
of Illinois
CHRISTMAS TREE--VANDAL PROTECTION
To protect your Christmas tree from vandals:
Combine 20 ounces of hydrated lime and 4 ounces of a anti-desiccant
(WILT-PRUF, FOLIGARD) and mix into paste. Add 20 gallons water and 2
bottle of your favorite colored food coloring. Spray entire tree.
Mixture should last through December and wash off with winter rains
and snows.
Of course, you will have a colored tree in the landscape. But it will
be there, instead of in someone else's house.
Information above provided by the University
of Illinois
