Christmas Tree Fun Facts

History & Origins

The tradition is older than you think — Germans began decorating evergreen trees as far back as the 16th century, taking them inside and ornamenting them with apples, nuts and candles. The practice caught on in Europe, from where it slowly made its way back to America in the 1800s.

Queen Victoria made them fashionable — After a London newspaper published an illustration of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert standing around a adorned Christmas tree in 1848, the fad exploded across Britain and America.

The first electric Christmas lights were unveiled in 1882 Edward H. Johnson, a colleague of Thomas Edison, created the first string of Christmas tree lights with 80 red, white and blue bulbs, which circled a rotating glass treetop from his warehouse.

Growing & Farming

It requires 7-10 years to grow a Christmas tree — From seedling to 6-foot tree ready for harvest are spent in providing care and nurturing it.

There are roughly 350 million Christmas trees growing on tree farms right now .In the U.S. alone, The Atlantic found there's about 350,000 acres of land devoted to these festive plants.

Real trees are better for the environment than fake ones: A real tree is biodegradable and carbon-neutral, whereas fake trees are manufactured using petroleum-based plastic (and usually shipped from overseas), leaving a larger carbon footprint.

1-3 SEEDLINGS PLANTED PER HARVESTED TREE - Real Christmas Trees are a renewable, recyclable resource with an annual harvest.

Records & Remarkable Trees

The tallest cut Christmas tree ever put up was 221 feet high. That Douglas fir stood in a Seattle shopping centre in 1950.

The Rockefeller Centre tree tradition began in 1931 — Construction workers at the site spent their money to buy a tree during the Great Depression. Now it’s a symbolic part every year with trees generally measuring 75-90 feet.

The expensive-its Christmas tree ornament sold for $5.6 million A creation of jeweller Hallmark, it included precious stones and was crafted to be auctioned off for charity.

Norway gives a tree to London every year- Since 1947, Norway has supplied a huge Norwegian spruce to Trafalgar Square in gratitude for British help during World War II.

Tree Science

Evergreens stay green due to their waxy casing The needle-like leaves are coated with a protective waxy layer that holds water, and those coats help the plant survive winter extremes.

Christmas trees are cultivated in all 50 U.S. states - Even among Hawaii and Alaska have reservations, although Oregon, North Carolina and Michigan are leading the way on Christmas tree farms.

The best Christmas tree its Fraser Fir - Strong branches, great needle retention, with a pleasant scent.

About 5,000 needles on a 6-foot Christmas tree — and they give off oxygen during their growing season that can support a family of four for the day.

Fun Traditions

Tinsel was originally made of real silver- In the 1900s, tinsel used to be made out of actual silver, and was therefore valuable. PLASTIC Tinsel as we know it today is made from plastic.

Spiders in trees are good luck - In a Ukrainian legend, spiders decorated the tree of a poor widow whose children couldn't afford to decorate. The season's sunrise turned her webs into silver, and that was inspiration for tinsel.

The Christmas pickle tradition — Some families hide a pickle-shaped ornament on the tree, and whoever finds it earns an extra present or good luck for the year.

Upside-down Christmas trees were a Victorian thing during the 19th century, some people in Europe suspended firs from ceiling point to floor, ostensibly to make room for more presents below.

Modern Facts

30-35 million Christmas trees are sold annually in the U.S. Talk about a lot of Christmas spirit!

There has been a White House Christmas tree every year since 1923 - When President Calvin Coolidge began observing the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony.

You can rent a “living” Christmas tree Some companies now sell potted trees that you put lights and ornaments on for a few weeks, then return to have it replanted after the holidays have concluded.

The smell of Christmas trees can relieve stress Pine told us that the scent of pine can lower cortisol and reduce anxiety.

Christmas trees are turned into mulch, fish habitats and elephant meals - Many communities have recycling programs that reuse trees after the holidays.

Around the World

KFC at Christmas in Japan is more popular than Christmas trees - Or eating Chinese food, which also people do here on Dec. 24 now that there are more trees and Christianity but towns twinkly and festive with craft commercialism —the Original recipe can’t be matched by the Star of Bethlehem?

Latvia and Estonia both claim to have hosted the first decorated Christmas tree Both countries have monuments attesting to be the place where the first public tree stood in early 1500.

In Catalonia, Spain, there's a “pooping log” — Called “Caga Tió,” children “feed” a large log something to eat and then beat it with sticks on Christmas before reaching into the cavity that materializes and pulling out presents.

New Zealand’s Christmas tree is actually a native tree named Pōhutukawa - It has red flowers that bloom in December, the peak of their summer.

Whether you like real or fake ones, tall trees or table top ones, your Christmas tree is a part of a tradition that goes back centuries and links families around the globe. Happy decorating!