Environmental Issues With Cheap Artificial Christmas Trees
by Astrid Bullen
There is some dispute over whether natural or the comparatively cheap artificial Christmas trees are better for the environment. Artificial trees are typically made out of PVC, a poisonous material that is frequently stabilized with lead. These trees can be used for several years, but they are usually non-recyclable, ending up in landfills. Live trees are usually grown as a crop and replanted in rotation after cutting, often providing proper habitat for wildlife.
Whether you choose the convenience of an artificial tree, or the sentiment of a real one, you can have fun decorating it with ornaments, garland and lights. Another decorating option is Florida-style, which is defined as anything marine or tropical � something that maybe reminds you of the water, your favorite beach or vacation cottage. Decorations can include shells, nautical themes and tropical treasures.
Historical Issues With The Christmas Tree
Christmas trees originated in Germany, where the great reformer Martin Luther established the custom of decorating evergreens at Christmastime. Did you know that adorning Christmas trees and using the clippings of evergreen shrubs for Christmas has been a contentious issue at times in Western history? Using the clippings of evergreen shrubs to beautify houses, a widespread practice during the December festivities of Saturnalia, was sternly forbidden by the church. In the sixteenth century John Calvin objected to observing Christmas because he felt it promoted irreligious frivolity.
Nowadays, millions of Christmas trees grow on thousands of acres, strung across the country like garlands. The trees are one of Wisconsin�s most profitable crops, pumping more than $29 million into the state�s economy in 2002. It has become easier to order natural trees, and some websites, such as Christmas Trees Galore, sell them online alongside their artificial counterparts.
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