Welsh Tree of the Year

[Burning Petard]

Again, WTF does the big Christmas Tree ritual have to do with celebrating Christmas? There seems to be alot of 'mine is bigger than yours' involved. Not so much about the little babe in the manger.

snailgate

[Bicycle Bill]

Snail/BP, except to the very religious, Christmas hasn't been about the babe in the manger or peace on earth or any of the religious trappings since sometime in the sixties.  And woe be unto them if they don't accept the obvious — that December 25th is the culmination of the three-month Great American Greed Festival and Celebration of Conspicuous Consumerism.

Even as far back as 1966 the idea that a cartoon character — Linus, in "A Charlie Brown Christmas" — would recite from the Gospel of Luke and then remind Charlie Brown that "that's what Christmas is all about" damn near didn't make it past CBS.  But Charles Schulz stood by his work and the network relented.



And there's an interesting little bit of symbolism in this clip that is easily overlooked.  When Linus gets to the passage "And the angel said unto them 'Fear not; for behold!  I bring unto you tidings of great joy...' " he lets go of his security blanket.

-"BB"-

[Big RR]

I have to disagree BB; I don't recall the CBS/Schultz dispute, but there are many religious specials and movies broadcast in this season, from nativity stories to Going My Way and Boys Town to stories of religious orders. many of the songs sung on Christmas specials are religious songs celebrating the birth of Jesus (and they are not censored) and many others are pleas for peace on earth and good will in this season. yes some people celebrate this season without the religious trappings and even beliefs, but so what, many others embrace that side of it. And it is hardly squelched by anyone (despite what Bill O'Reilly says). And as for just a seasonal good will and feeling without the religion--is that a bad thing?

BSG--thanks for the links, I'll look at them when I get time. But I can say that I usually see big tractor trailers of cut Christmas trees being carried from New England down the northeast corridor, I've even seen Christmas trees in Hawaii, so many are not locally grown and shipped great distances.

personally, I prefer a real tree, and when the kids were younger usually went to a local farm with the kids and cut one ourselves, but as they have gotten older and we have traveled during the season (making watering a problem and coming home to a carpet of needles), we have moved to the "dark side" and purchased an artificial one; I've used it for the last 5 years and will continue doing so as long as we have to room for it (it's pretty tall)--right now it shows little wear. When we downsize our house, I will try to find someone to take it.

[Guinevere]

When considering the environmental impacts of a Christmas tree, the data seems to say the most to least environmental solutions are as follows:

1. No tree.

2. Locally sourced live tree with a root ball than can be and is replanted (and survives).

3. Live farmed tree, locally sourced and self-cut. If you can get one from a tree farm that uses no or minimal pesticides, all the better. Having it chipped at the end of its life is even better, as it gets a second life as chips.

4. Live farmed tree, locally sourced, pre-cut. These places can be difficult to find. Most tree stands sell trees that are grown and mass shipped in bulk from Canada, New England, the upper Northwest, or similar places, so there is a significant carbon impact in moving the trees around.

5. Live farmed tree, mass produced and shipped (see above).

6. Artificial tree/Live tree, not farmed, wild cut (not replaced). Seems that these two are a push. Or maybe it just breaks my heart to see wild trees cut down needlessly.

Of course, everyone has to make their own value judgments. If you want an artificial tree because its neater, and helps make your life simpler at the holiday, then go for it -- we all need to do what we need to do to get through this busy time of year. But know it isn't anywhere near as environmentally friendly as you might think.

ETA: updated list with LR's point below.

[Long Run]

I think number 2 would be a potted tree that is then planted after the season.

An artificial tree that can be used for 20 years or more doesn't seem to be any worse than any of the other options, when you factor in the efforts to grow trees, then have families or businesses harvest them, bring them to market/home, and then put them in the yard debris for composting.

[Guinevere]

You're right LR - I had meant to include that. A balled tree that you can replant (and that survives) is the first best tree option. I'll update my list.

[Scooter]

Even as far back as 1966 the idea that a cartoon character — Linus, in "A Charlie Brown Christmas" — would recite from the Gospel of Luke and then remind Charlie Brown that "that's what Christmas is all about" damn near didn't make it past CBS.  But Charles Schulz stood by his work and the network relented.

I smell the "war on Christmas" crowd's bullshit. I can recall major network television shows through the 70s and 80s featuring the religious significance of Christmas prominently, including characters on shows like The Waltons and Little House on the Prairie reading the Christmas story verbatim from the bible.

[BoSoxGal]

Ditto, the Walton's family story is rooted in the 'papa's lost at Christmas' family narrative, as I recall - there was definitely a bunch of Christian stuff presented very openly in that show - also in Little House it was a very regular thing.

[oldr_n_wsr]

Locally sourced live tree with a root ball than can be and is replanted (and survives).

It has been my experience that not many survive.
The trees go from cold (where they gradually went dormant for the coming winter) into the warm house (and come out of dormancy) then back out into the cold very abruptly.
Your milage may very.

But we always get a real tree. Many years I go local to a "cut your own" tree farm.

[Guinevere]

My parents always had one large fresh cut tree and one smaller balled tree that my father planted after the holiday - and I'd say 90% survived. We had a nice windbreak around the garage from them.