Christmas Tree 

Tree worship (dendrolatry) refers to the tendency of many societies throughout history to worship or otherwise mythologize trees. Trees have played an important role in many of the world's mythologies and religions, and have been given deep and sacred meanings throughout the ages. Human beings, observing the growth and death of trees, the elasticity of their branches, the sensitivity and the annual decay and revival of their foliage, see them as powerful symbols of growth, decay and resurrection. The most ancient cross-cultural symbolic representation of the universe's construction is the world tree. The image of the Tree of life is also a favorite in many mythologies. Various forms of trees of life also appear in folklore, culture and fiction, often relating to immortality or fertility. These often hold cultural and religious significance to the peoples for whom they appear. For them, it may also strongly be connected with the motif of the world tree.

The modern tradition of the Christmas Tree in Germanic mythology, the Tree of Knowledge of Judaism and Christianity. The Christmas tree is one of the most popular and cherished Christmas customs.  From the mid-seventeenth century on the Christmas tree slowly grew in popularity and use. Until the beginning of the 19^th century that the use of Christmas tree grew into the general German custom that it is today. The Christmas tree is the tree of life, a figure of Christ, God’s greatest gift to all men. The evergreen tree was an ancient symbol of life in the midst of winter. A Christmas tree is one of the most important Christmas decorations that you will put up during the Christmas season. There is a wild Christmas Tree reflects the spirit of the season never the less.

The Christmas tree mature in an average of eight years and are harvested and re-planted. Most tree varieties are ready to harvest at the popular height of 5 to 7 feet in around eight years. The three most popular Christmas trees are Balsam fir, Douglas fir and Scotch pine. Balsam fir is a popular tree species in the eastern U.S., where colder winters and cool summers provide ideal growing conditions. Balsam fir has a natural cone shape, so it needs fewer shearing to look perfect. Douglas fir is the most widely grown Christmas tree in the northwest U.S. It holds it’s needles after cutting and is also naturally cone shape, so it needs minimal shaping. Douglas fir prefers a mild growing climate, with well-drained soil. Scotch pine is popular with growers because it is a fast grower in a wide range of soils and climates. Because Scotch pine develops a deep tap root, it is more drought-tolerant than many other species. However, it does require regular shearing to develop the desirable cone shape of a traditional Christmas tree.

Frazer Fir - (Abies fraseri) – Attractive tree with greyish green needles. Grand Fir - (Abies grandis) – Large fleshy olive green needles with fragrant smell. Fast growing on moist well drained soil.  Noble Fir - (Abies nobilis) – Attractive but slow growing tree. Needs moist well drained soil with high humidity. Difficult to shear.  Nordman Fir – (Abies nordmanniana) – Slow growing, but generally disease resistant. Attractive tree with greyish green shining foliage. Blue Spruce - (Picea pungens glauca) – Attractive blue tinge with dense habit. Slow growing. Best sold as a small pot grown tree.  Norway Spruce - (Picea abies) – Traditional British Christmas tree. Easy to establish but needs pruning (shearing) into shape.  Serbian Spruce - (Picea omorika) – Needles dark green above, glaucous beneath. Narrow habit with regular branches.