The tradition of Christmas trees in America came from German

people like to have a fresh Christmas tree in their homes, or outside

on their lawns. And similar to all other trees, Christmas trees also

have different shapes and qualities that make some types more popular

than others.

Along with other decorative Christmas items such as wreaths and

garlands, having a Christmas tree in your home is very essential in

creating a special atmosphere for the season. It is believed that

Christmas trees have been available for sale in America since the

1800s, which is about the same time that the former Woolworth's

department store started selling ready-made ornaments for Christmas

trees.

Choosing the right type of Christmas tree is important because

Christmas trees are often a focal point for many family activities and

traditions. Given the many types of Christmas trees that are available,

it is important to think about how the tree will be used. While a tall

tree may look very elegant, it may not be suitable if there aren't many

adults around who can reach the tree's heights. And a very short tree

may be dwarfed by other furniture in the room. It's therefore very

important to carefully consider and get a tree that has a suitable

height and also one that has sturdy branches to hold heavy ornaments.

Artificial and real Christmas trees can often be bought from the

same retail stores these days as local businesses and retail chain

stores often sell both types of trees. The best place to get a real and

fresh Christmas tree, and also to see a wide variety, is likely a

Christmas tree farm however. Using modern technology, both types of

trees can also be obtained through online transactions, via telephone

as well as by mail-order through catalogs.

Among Christmas trees there are certain types that are

always favorites and which are bestsellers. These include: Douglas,

Fraser, Noble and Balsam firs, and Scotch, Virginia and white pine

trees.

These evergreen trees all have all have one or more excellent

features related to shape, color or sheen and fragrance, which makes

them favorites for Christmas trees.

The most favorite Christmas trees basically have a pyramid or

cone shape. A pyramid-shaped tree is likely taller and has somewhat of

an elegant look. Douglas Fir, which ranks first among Christmas tree

favorites, is an example of a pyramid-shaped tree. Other examples are

Fraser, Balsam and Noble firs.

A cone shape tree tends to be short with dense branches, which makes

them excellent for holding many ornaments and other decorations.

Families that have a strong tradition of making their own ornaments, or

putting mememtos on Christmas trees may consider a cone-shaped tree.

Virginia and Scotch Pines, Norway Spruce and the Eastern White Pine all

have cone shapes.

Another feature that makes Christmas trees appealing is their

color. While all trees have a green appearance, a closer look at their

needles will reveal differences such as a bright or dark-green, blue-

green or yellowish-green hue. The needles may also emit a silvery sheen

with the right lighting. Fraser and Noble firs both have needles with a

silvery sheen, and the branches of both trees are also used for

garlands and wreaths.

Most people choose a fresh Christmas tree for its fragrance,

which can be fairly strong or just subtle, giving off just enough of a

whiff of scent. Douglas Fir, which is the most popular Christmas tree

in homes and public places, is a very fragrant tree. The Balsam fir is

also fairly fragrant. The Eastern White Pine is however, a tree that

doesn't have much fragrance.

Whether you have a favorite type of Christmas tree or will choose

one from its appearance, there are many choices to satisfy the desire

to have a fragrant and well-decorated tree for Christmas.

Given the many types of Christmas trees available and the various ways in

because you will observe the tree being cut at the time it is purchased. If a

tree is bought elsewhere, such as from a retail lot, it is important to find out

where the tree came from and when it was cut.

To determine the freshness of a tree, observe whether it looks green and

healthy, has a fragrant scent and has needles that are moist and flexible. If

the needles appear dry or show browning, then that is a sign the tree isn't very

fresh. If a large amount of green needles fall when a few branches of the tree

are shaken, that's also a sign that the tree isn't the best one to buy to last

for the entire season. The needles of fir trees should break crisply when they

are bent. If a fir tree needle is bent and doesn't break readily with pressure,

it might mean that the tree isn't absorbing water and that will affect its

longevity.

Another reason a Christmas tree farm can be a better option for purchasing a

Christmas tree is that it will be more likely to offer more species of trees and

therefore a wider variety of shapes and sizes.

For those Christmas trees that are located on retail or other commercial lots,

freshness can be determined by looking at the conditions in which the trees are

kept. Observe whether the trees are kept in stands that hold water, if baled

trees are protected from the wind and sun, if a fresh cut is put on trees and if

the trees are tied down correctly.

Another quality to consider in selecting the right Christmas tree is its size.

Before buying a tree, its important to decide where it will be placed so that

the space can be measured. You will need to do a floor to ceiling measurement

and then subtract at least 10-12 inches to get the maximum height for the

Christmas tree. It is recommended that at least 10-12 inches of space should be

between the top of the Christmas tree and the ceiling.

The bottom of the Christmas tree also needs to be checked to make sure there is

adequate space between the end of it and the lowest branches. A small diagonal

fresh cut, such as an inch, is made in that area to enhance absorption of water,

which will make the tree last longer. This cut should be made just before the

tree is placed in water. If a fresh cut is done and the tree is exposed to the

air too long, the vessels can become blocked.

Along with freshness and size, a tree should be selected based on the shape that

you like, the smell of the needles and bark and on how dense and sturdy the

branches are. For the density and sturdiness of the tree, you need to have an

idea how the tree will be decorated - how many heavy ornaments, Christmas lights

or bows will be used. As an example, a fir tree that has sturdy branches will be

better for holding heavy ornaments and a pine tree is good for Christmas trees

that have light decorations such as bows and a string of Christmas lights.

The texture of the branches and how durable or long-lasting the tree will

be are also worth considering in choosing a perfect Christmas tree.

The decoration of Christmas trees has evolved and undergone many changes,

While many people choose a fresh Christmas tree for its scent, many others

simply want a beautifully decorated Christmas tree and will choose an artificial

or man-made tree. Artificial trees have been available in America since the

start of the 20th century. Many artificial trees are made to have a similar

appearance like real Christmas trees, but changes have been made to them to make

them decorative and different from regular Christmas trees.

As an example, in the 1950s some artificial Christmas trees had branches

made of aluminum-coated paper to give them a shiny metallic look. For those who

like to have a Christmas tree with a unique look, trees with a similar shiny,

metallic appearance are available today. They are however made with a different

material because the older trees were a fire hazard.

For the those people who are very busy and don't have the time to spend

carefully placing Christmas lights on trees, there are several pre-lit models of

Christmas trees on the market today. A standard type of these Christmas trees

look like their real counterparts except multi-colored fiber-optic lights can be

found scattered throughout the limbs and branches of these trees. This

arrangement saves time and effort of having to undo or untangle strings of

Christmas tree lights.

Another type of pre-lit artificial Christmas tree are those that are made

completely of fiber optics so that the tree appears to be shaped out of strands

of light that are wispy. Some of these brightly-lit fiber-optic trees also come

equipped with pre-recorded Christmas songs and carols and speakers to give the

added pleasure of music.

Many pre-lit Christmas trees have electric Christmas tree lights however

which need to be plugged into a real electrical outlet. The advantage of these

trees is that the lights are already strung on them from the factory and you

need only to follow the instructions about how to assemble the tree and plug in

the different parts for it to appear lighted. Once this is done correctly, the

tree will look as if it was decorated with lights manually or professionally.

Another ready-made decorative feature of artificial Christmas trees is to have

the appearance of snow-covered branches. That trend is an evolution of faux snow

that is often sprinkled in garlands and wreaths to add a Christmas quality to

those decorations. Icicle ornaments are also used to decorate real and

artificial trees and icicle lights are commonly used along rooflines and outdoor

areas for additional lighting decoration. These decorations, along with the

ready-made snow-covered branches of artificial trees, all convey the frosty, icy

and cold feel of the winter season when Christmas occurs.

Christmas trees that arrive from the factory with lights also have

decorations such as apples and minute red berries to provide additional color,

and real pinecones that may or may not be frosted or sprinkled with faux snow.

They may also be pre-decorated with red or gold bows, round ornaments, flower-

like patterns, dried bow and twigs and gold frosted branch tips. to give an

appealing, sparkling appearance. The trees also have varying hues of green

similar to real Christmas trees.

Pre-lit and pre-decorated Christmas trees are therefore an excellent way

to brighten the holiday in your home and enable you to gain more time to enjoy

the festivities of the season.