National Christmas Tree Day: Celebrate the Iconic Symbol of Christmas

With Christmas right around the corner, it’s time to celebrate one of the most iconic symbols of the holiday season. It really is beginning to look a lot like Christmas, folks! Dec. 8 is National Christmas Tree Day in the U.S.A, an annual event created by the Queen of Holidays.

Picking out the perfect tree, stuffing it in the trunk or tying it to the roof of the car, dragging it inside the house and decorating it with tinsel, ornaments and lights, has been a beloved American tradition for years. But the question remains – real or artificial? About 33 million real trees and 9.5 million faux trees are sold in the United States each year.

Live Christmas trees have been sold in America since the 1850s. While only two percent of Americans head to the local woods or forest to chop down a tree, most of today's Christmas trees are grown on farms. The best selling trees are Blue spruce, Scotch pine, White pine, Noble fir, Fraser fir, Douglas fir and Balsam fir.

While live trees provide a certain ambiance, artificial trees have grown in popularity over the years and are now available in a variety of sizes, styles and colors. The first artificial trees were made in Germany in the 19th century. Goose feathers were dyed green, attached to wire branches then wrapped around a tree trunk made out of a dowel rod. Most of today’s trees are made from PVC plastic and manufactured in China. Nearly 11 million faux trees were purchased in America in 2012.

Once the holidays are over, it’s important to recycle those live trees. And most people, about 93 percent, do just that. Christmas trees are not only biodegradable, but provide much-needed shelter for wildlife (please remove tinsel and other decorations which can be hazardous to our furry friends.)

Whether you prefer real or artificial, Happy National Christmas Tree Day! Today is also National Brownie Day. Sweet!