Great Chitter Chatter - Stories from Loud Voices

Choosing a good tree for your Christmas holiday is very important in making it a fun-filled experience.  Perhaps you need a live tree, but in some cases an artificial one will work just as well.  Either way, you definitely want to pick a tree that not only suits your needs, but also aids in the process of holiday spirit creation.  Sometimes you want to just cut a tree yourself.  If you’ve never done this before, it’s a great thin to try and you may end up doing it every year.

Trees that are already cut are without doubt the easiest option, as you can have a lot of trees to make your choice from, and then all you have to do is pay for it and take it home. Note that you won’t have a great selection of trees with this method, and often they are older and they get very dry as they sit in a Christmas tree store.  This can create the potential for fire if they get too dry, so be careful to choose a tree that is not too old if you go with this method.

One advantage to artificial trees is the safety strength which they have.  In addition, they’re a piece of cake to put up and take down, and can be used over and over again.  There’s no need to spend hours decorating them - particularly when they are fiber-optic.  However you might want to decorate regardless of what kind of tree you have because Christmas cheer can be created this way.

Finally you may decide to cut your own tree, which means you can get a very fresh tree that is full and not dried out.  It will probably not loose its needles as fast as a tree that has been already cut, or even an artificial tree.  You might want to have a specialist help you shape your tree by cutting it in certain places to size it down a bit.  Fresh trees also tend to smell better and retain their pine scent.

When choosing the pre-cut tree method, get a fresh and full tree with little damage or dryness.  Make sure the tree isn’t suffering from loss of needles, and isn’t dried out or brown in too many places.  If it is, it’s probably old. Note as well that older trees lose more sap.  Stickiness from this sap can get on your furniture and floor, as well as the presents you are giving at Christmastime. 

Also, older trees tend to get sappy and start to add a sticky residue to everything around them, including the presents that will undoubtedly go underneath your tree. In the end, the type of tree you pick should be based on the criteria of convenience, family tradition, and ease of setup.  You don’t want the process of choosing a Christmas tree to be agonizing and hard to do, but you also want it to be a fun-filled time where you get to spend enjoyable hours with the family.  

If picking out a tree together is part of your Christmas ritual, you probably don’t want to use an artificial tree.  However, if you care more about the decorating part of Christmas tree time than you do about the tree itself, you might be fine with an artificial tree.

Doc. No:912-JG-ULT5-lks3s

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The Christmas tree is a symbol of the holiday season for 33 million American households each year. Some people choose to buy their tree from the store, but many families enjoy “hunting” down that perfect tree and spending time together as a family placing the Christmas ornaments on the branches. There are many different types of tree to choose from and countless ways to decorate, as well as ways to protect you and your family from fire this Christmas.

Perhaps you’re thinking about getting a real tree this holiday season. There’s nothing like the fragrance and natural beauty of a tree in your own home. Firs are one of the most popular types of Christmas trees, yet there are many varieties to choose from. The Fraser Fir makes the perfect tree with 1″ silvery needles that are soft to the touch and held on widely spaced, sturdy branches, making it easy to decorate. The Noble Fir is a deep green, with sturdy branches and soft needles; used for making the ideal Christmas wreath too. The Grand Fir is a glossy dark green, with slightly longer needles but the branches may not hold some of the heavier ornaments. Many people like the Balsam Fir for its fragrance, its nice form and its dark green color, even though it also will not hold some of the heavier ornaments. Similarly, the Douglas-firs have a wonderful fragrance, soft shiny bluish-green needles, good needle retention and the perfect conical shape, which may be tricky for fitting decorations.

There are many ways to decorate a Christmas tree, which is usually based on personal preference and style. However, if you’d like some traditional decorating tips for your tree, then you may want to follow a theme like country, Victorian or family style. The country tree is short, full and stout. Old-fashioned, egg-shaped red and green lights are the most popular, although blue and yellow lights are okay too. Rustic ornaments made of wood, tin, velvet, ribbon, glass and tinsel may then be added, with a star to top it off. By contrast, the tall, slender Victorian tree uses themes such as angels, animals, birds or musical instruments. Ornaments are usually small, made of tin or glass and colored blue, lavender, pink or gold. Lastly, the family Christmas trees showcase real characters, using all homemade ornaments and decorations like strung-popcorn, homemade gingerbread men, candy canes and a hodge podge of flashing lights.

If you are one of the 33 million American homes with a natural Christmas tree in your home, then be careful to practice safety this Christmas. Each year there are over 200 fires caused by real and artificial Christmas trees, resulting in 24 deaths, 27 injuries and $13.3 million in property damage. Half of all Christmas tree fires result from electrical malfunction, 27% from a nearby heat source and 5% from children playing with fire or other heat sources. By taking proper precautions this Christmas, such as throwing out faulty, frayed electrical lights, as well as keeping your tree watered and away from heat sources, you’ll ensure a happy holiday.