Throughout the years many families have shared the same holiday traditions, one, in particular, is going out in the elements and picking the perfect tree. A beautiful tree decorated with lights and family memories inscribed on ornaments. Every kid’s joy is to wake up, surprised to see all of the wrapped gifts under the tree. Many don’t quite understand the vast history behind this otherwise thought normal holiday essential. 

The modern Christmas tree was originally found in the west of Germany. The Germans would set up a religious tree in their humble homes to celebrate the day of Adam and Eve. The Christmas tree later evolved into more of what we understand it to be to this day. The first decorated Christmas tree was in Riga, Lavita in 1510.

Decorations were very ornate but also sometimes hazardous. With real wax candles, garlands made of dried fruit and popcorn, paper garlands as well, and personal family treasures. In this more modern, developed time people use plug-in lights and are opposed to the danger of fire on a tree. 

Though many now know Christmas trees as store-bought, fake trees, with less greenery and more metal and cling. But it’s important to go back to our roots and experience a “good old fashioned Christmas tree” as Chevy Chase once said. 

Buying a real Christmas tree can benefit you in so many vast ways. Providing clean air, improving animal health, and helping our air quality. A fair amount of people in this world think that buying fake trees benefits our world better, with fewer trees being cut and more man-made inventions but though the cleanness of a plastic tree might be tempting its pollution is profuse. Plastic washing up on shore hurts animals but also harms us. Many toxic chemicals included in fake trees can be cancer-causing and illness-provoking. 

Real Christmas trees don’t require the intensive carbon emissions that it takes to produce and ship artificial trees.  According to the Association of Christmas Tree Growers, for every tree that is cut down each year, 1 to 3 new seedling trees are planted. Sustainable Christmas tree farms are the ethical choice; they can be great for the environment and the people that live on them.