The Christmas tree or the Solstice tree and the environment.

by Paschen | November 27, 2008 at 10:57 am

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By, Uwe Paschen.

The Christmas tree or the Solstice Tree?

For millennia’s now trees have been worshiped by many cultures as being mystical, even magical and gifted with great powers. The Germanic Tribes and the Scandinavian Tribes gave us the tradition of the decorated tree at solstice, nowadays better known as Christmas tree.

Some 2000 years ago though, the Fir tree was decorated with Fruits and Straw ornaments as well as religious symbols referring to Odin who is also the ancestor of Father Christmas as Agios Nikolaos, ("victory of the people") is the common name for Nicholas of Myra.) Is the ancestor of Saint Nicolas.

The Decorations of the Tree was latter adapted to Christmas, and even though many Christian did resist it at first, since it is a Pagan symbol and tradition, it did make a break through with Martin Luther in the 16th century in Germany. Latter in the 19th Century it was introduced in Briton as well as in the Americas. Nowadays around the World. Even here, in Japan the Christmas tree is to be fund everywhere.

However today a great number of them are plastic trees made to 68% in China and 27% in the USA and Canada, The German still swear by the real tree and have adopted a new custom by buying live trees and planting those right after Christmas in the Garden or the Wood lot near by.

Now there are also a great number of Tree Farms that grow trees as others do grow Pigs for slotter. Some see this as a good thing and others find it environmentally unfriendly. It is actually rather difficult to make up once mind on what is and what is not good for the environment, since we are being bombarded with facts and figures from all directions.

Some of those so called facts are merely made up by some Sales Persons or even businesses at times, however there are some sound sites and real research lead by Universities and independent associations that have looked in to it rather seriously, such as the Christmas Tree Association for instance, http://www.christmastree.org/faketrees.cfm

Now, it does seem that planting a tree would be by far the best one could do for the environment. Secondly, would be the real cut tree grown by certified wood loots that do not harm the forest as such and last of course the plastic tree since it is made with PVC and originates from Petrol based products that do really harm our environment.

Same does go for the ornaments and lights. Opting for the environment would require straw and natural ornaments rather then plastic once or synthetic ornaments. The old way seems to be best here, Fruits and Straw ornaments.

Lights, well if you have to have them, less is off course better and energy saving once would be grand, not only do they help the environment, but they also save a lot of money on the electrical bill and those keep going up as we all know to well.

Now, if you opt for the real environmental choice then you leave the hole tree thing and donate a tree to be planted in the spring in your country or some where else, that would have the greatest positive impact of all. http://www.environmentalmediafund.org/Home.aspx

Now, as you may decorate your tree for Christmas, after all. Do remember some facts in honour of that tree, such as.: In a single Year a tree processes 1,254,000.00 KCall/M2 of this the tree uses 1,199 KCall/M2 for its own grows, not to much in fact, yet 55% of that energy the Tree uses for respiration, meaning filtering the air, removing or absorbing CO2 and rejecting Oxygen. That is a lot by any standard.

So show some respect to our friends the tree this season and maybe even plant one your self in gesture of being grateful for all they do for us CO2 Producer and Oxygen users on Earth. Happy Holidays.

Sources.

http://books.google.com/books?id=0Ntvos9aaC8C&pg=PA326&lpg=PA326&dq=Kilocalory+used+for+tree+growth&source=web&ots=lR_JJBXa5b&sig=EFoUXaQT6HAlmsbagHhshrbZ7eQ&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result#PPA295,M1

http://www.christmastree.org/debate.cfm

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munty13

at 11:29 on November 27th, 2008

Some people in my street go the whole hog and light up the entire outside of the house, including mechanical Santa and reindeer. It gives off an eerie glow which you can see on Google Earth.

Amy Judd

at 11:38 on November 27th, 2008

That is like down my street too - some people go crazy!

Tina Kells

at 11:32 on November 27th, 2008

Great story!

Amy Judd

at 11:37 on November 27th, 2008

Great piece - I have tagged it 'Green Holidays' so that it appears in the Green Holidays channel!

Fairbanks

at 11:40 on November 27th, 2008

Good story. In Germany we used traditional candles rather than electric lights on our tree. Of course it caught fire, but this was expected and we were prepared. Likely candle holders are no longer commercially available.

Christina 123

at 13:54 on November 27th, 2008

I love trees, espeically conifers, and their fellow soil inhabitants, the birch.

politisite

at 16:12 on November 27th, 2008

Well done. From my Christian point of view. I do not like the idea of a decorated tree in the house. Following having my daughter, Melissa, I changed my view so she could enjoy the season. My wife Likes a tree as well. So I have gone along with the tradition.

My thing is that a tree has little to do with the birth of Christ. In Peurto Rico their tradition, putting hay under the bed, so the Magi could come and bring gifts, seems more appropriate to me. I am opposed to using a live tree to be thrown into a fire following a short period. It seems like poor stewardship of Gods world. I have a fake tree that does well and looks well. So call me a green Christian Republican.

Some folks call me weak as I allowed a tree for my daughter and wife. My view is that I allow for them to express the season their own way. It is nice to see a few presents under there on Christmas Morning. As I have grown older and have most of what I need. The things I want are much too bug to fit under the tree.

You did a great job on this story. I hope you bring it back just before Christmas a s well by updating it a week or so before the 25th. If one uses a tree, I hope they keep it alove and plant it each year. You can tag it for the year it represents and when one is old can go to each tree to help jog ones memories.

sara star

at 14:37 on December 21st, 2008

It seems like poor stewardship of Gods world

I used to think that it was too. But now the environmentalist advocate live trees instead plastic. We have a lot of Christmas tree farms in Nova Scotia. And if you think about it, the trees are planted and cared for by farmers, just like any other crop. It is not like they are going into the virgin forests and clearcutting. So I have changed my view on it.

Milieunet

at 21:19 on November 27th, 2008

Good story

azzayindia

at 02:06 on November 28th, 2008

great work

ddanielle (not verified)

at 07:45 on November 28th, 2008

good story.

Although I agree that real trees are the best option for the environment, I think there is 2 points you missed.

1. Many people live in cities, in apartments where they do not have a section of garden to plant their tree after Christmas, where will they plant it? in parks? in someone else's garden? or donate to be planted somewhere? i guess the place where it needs to be planted is also an issue since christmas trees cannot grow in every type of climate.

2. if every year tons of people decide to buy a live christmas tree, do you think our tree forest reserves will keep up with the demand?

i do agree with you that real trees are the best for the environment but maybe not in these day and age...

Paschen

at 08:11 on November 28th, 2008

I did not miss it though, it is in the article.

Today more trees are being cut then planted, to the point that many countries such as the Scandinavian and North America countries do know a depletion of there Forest due to a high demand in wood, further we have many forests around the globe dying due to deceases of some species that need to be replaced with new species.

In Africa, countries such as Niger, Algeria and Cameroon, many have Christmas trees however those are local species and not Fir trees so they would plant other species.

Even here in Japan we have a forest depletion that needs to be replanted.

It would take two decades of Christmas trees before we start cashing up with the lack of trees due to 6 decades of miss management.

Thank you for the comment.

sara star

at 14:40 on December 21st, 2008

do you think our tree forest reserves will keep up with the demand?

A lot of the trees don't come from the forest, rather from Christmas tree farms that are planted like any other crop.

ddanielle (not verified)

at 08:45 on November 28th, 2008

it is so sad when entire forest are being destroyed, i have first hand experience; i come from Cameroon where tons of trees are cut and then exported to make paper.

oh and yes we do have Christmas trees there, you reminded me ^_^ although our weather is extremely hot.

but they take years to grow and just a few hours to be destroyed... it is not going to be an easy task if we dont all put an effort in the replanting. And this brings me back to my first post, real trees are best for the environment but maybe not in these day and age...

Paschen

at 08:56 on November 28th, 2008

Hum, Cameroon, Where from Cameroon? Now we had Trees of local species not Fir and then planted them. I do not see the problem here, nor does any organization that deals with planting those trees after christmas. It is just a matter of co-ordinations and will. I know the Cameroon's weather and it is not the same in the North of the country then it would be in the South or in land and along the coast.

ddanielle (not verified)

at 09:04 on November 28th, 2008

oh i forgot, i am from a little village called Bafoussam in Cameroon where Christmas trees grow in abundance and they usually divide fields and farms... and in December instead of white and lovely snow covering the trees we get tons of dust... ^^/

Paschen

at 20:12 on November 28th, 2008

You forgot? How is that possible? Are you really from Cameroon? That has to be Zi, playing games.

ddanielle (not verified)

at 01:39 on December 1st, 2008

hi Paschen, i meant i forgot to give an exact detail of where i came in my last post not forgot where i came from... i can give you an exact description and few pictures of my village and such ...

and i am not Zi???

and yes i am really from cameroon, i moved to the UK 10 years ago with my family and have been living in london ever since. but i will never forget the great times i had in my village with my grand-parents; taking care of the farms and fields and helping out with the corns and peanuts harvest (arachides in french which is our national first language)...

type bafoussam in google to search...

Paschen

at 01:56 on December 1st, 2008

Thank you for the clarification, much appreciated.

PROFARMS

at 10:06 on November 28th, 2008

Thanks Paschen. The whole point is that we must go GREEN in our own small way. I think a potted Xmas tree is the way to go.

I wish you a GREEN thanksgiving holiday and GREEN Xmas too!

Nimoturth (not verified)

at 02:42 on November 29th, 2008

Trees are the only way to go but jungles forests are being cut. With overpoppulation and human greed. In japan no greenary is left. It is extreme violence against nature. In India which had long lived and trusted in co-existence now jungles are rare :-(

Gene pool of trees is being destroyed without any mercy or thought

We have many ancient stories of how trees help us and are part of our existence

In many parts of India we had even movements where people sacrificed their lives to save trees. When britishers in 18th century came to cut trees the local people who worshipped trees as part of their life hugged trees and sacrificed their lives to save trees

It was called chipko movement

Unfortunately the modernisation and westernisation has made fast growth in human hunger and greed in India as well and jungles are fast depleting.

Few people are making efforts but......

djermano

at 04:25 on November 29th, 2008

Jesus wasn't even born in December, and Santa Claus is a cartoon.. Trees in the livingroom when a wreath will do....is cruelty to trees to leave them inside. Plastic trees only collect dust under the bed each year, and reminds me of cleaning instead of Christmas....Why celebrate a phony holiday? I don't.

I believe Easter time is when Jesus was really born, and is the same time when he was crucified, and resurrected from the dead. I therefore celebrate Easter as Jesus Birth and Resurrection memorial holiday.

I like lighted candles in the window...that is electric ones.

Thanks and Happy Holidays...

Dom

Paschen

at 09:51 on November 29th, 2008

Thank you to all for Reading, Commenting, Recommending and For posting great Pictures here. I do appreciate it very much.

danesller0127

at 10:06 on November 29th, 2008

Merry 'X mas!!!

David James (not verified)

at 13:47 on November 30th, 2008

Your story is very old. Trees were worshipped since the beginning of time. What did the people in the place called Eden do? They worshipped a tree? Idolatry - putting the tree before the Creator, God.

Paschen

at 22:36 on December 1st, 2008

Maybe after seeing all the blood spilled in the name on religion and God or God's it would be wiser to worship Trees that give live and maintain it as well. Humanity has done really well destroying its environment and caused grave injustices in the name of those or this so called creator. We are Stuart's of this planet not masters and even for masters as the Mono-istique religions like to portray it, we are the worth sort of master they can be. So trees and showing some respect to those will make any one a far better Human then any Religious fundamentalist could ever be.

Thank you for the comment David James not verified.

danesller0127

at 07:47 on December 24th, 2008

"The tradition of a holiday tree has been around since ancient times and has played an important part in winter celebrations for many centuries. Many pagan festivals used trees when honoring their gods and spirits. In Northern Europe the Vikings considered the evergreen a symbol and reminder that the darkness and cold of winter would end and the green of spring would return. The Druids of ancient England and France decorated oak trees with fruit and candles to honor their gods of harvests. At the festival Saturnalia the Romans decorated trees with trinkets and candles.""There have also been many legends surrounding the lore of the Christmas tree. In one story Saint Boniface, an English monk, came upon a group of pagans who had gathered around an oak tree and were preparing to sacrifice a child. To stop the sacrifice and save the child, the Saint flattened the oak tree with one blow of his fist. A small fir sprang up in its place, which Saint Boniface told the pagans was the Tree of Life and represented the life of Christ.""The use of a Christmas tree indoors appears to have begun in Germany. German Christians would bring trees into their homes to decorate. In some areas evergreen trees were scarce so the families would build a Christmas pyramid, simple wooden structures which they decorated with branches and candles.""When the German immigrants went to American they also brought along their Christmas trees. In the 1830's most Americans still considered the Christmas tree an oddity. One of the first public displays of a Christmas tree was set up by German Settlers in Pennsylvania. At the time many still considered the tree to be a symbol of pagans and it wasn't until the late 1800's that Americans began accepting the Christmas tree."

Warm greetings from danesller...

djermano

at 05:49 on December 2nd, 2008

Let's be clear Uwe. God did not start the wars, nor did he tell people to fight wars on his behalf. That was their doing. So let's not make the mistake in blaming God for mans inhumanity to man. For once man should worship mankind in order to stop the bloodshed. God would be happy enough for that.

Rev.