Modern Questions About a Long-Standing Christmas Tradition

Over a month ago, this tree was firmly rooted in the ground.

In recent weeks, it resided in a home, likely decorated with ornaments, brimming with lights, wrapped presents at its base, propped up in a special corner of the room.

I walked past this discarded tree on a walk with my dog. I was jolted and saddened by the contrast of the potential joy or other warm feelings this tree brought these people for a (very) short time as opposed to it lying discarded at the side of their house.

I marvelled at its deep, rich green colour, its life force still intact, along with a wreath with a red bow still attached as its time-specific purpose, value and worth ended abruptly.

I listened to this talk before Christmas, which suggested the beginnings of the Christmas tree tradition stem back 26,000 years, beginning in Siberia. It was shared that the evergreens symbolize everlasting life and a promise of the sun/summer days, bringing some sun into the dark and that trees increase our dopamine and connection. Of course, we would want to smell, celebrate and be near them and their alive Spirit!

26,000 years ago, it’s hard for me to imagine what things were like then. I imagine the Planet was brimming with life and vibrancy!

Now, with a global population of 8 Billion, and of course, this is a tradition possible in only some places, I wondered how many trees are cut down each year to continue this tradition.

I started with a local Google search, which showed 900,000 trees are cut down each year in BC, the province in Canada where I live.

A fascinating article states that it’s estimated that approximately 33 to 36 million Christmas trees are produced and harvested in the United States each year, with 50 to 60 million produced and cut in Europe.

That’s a lot of trees!

I became deeply curious about this long-standing Christmas tradition’s ecological imprint.

Forests are vital for moderating our temperatures and our winds and producing rain, and they function in perfection without any intervention from human beings, which cannot be said for Christmas tree Farms.

Carmen Lamoureux is one of the excellent instructors at Verge Permaculture, where I completed my Permaculture Design Certification. She says:

“Because trees are these massively efficient biotic pumps through all of their processes, they’re always pulling up water from the ground, using that water not only for their survival but also through evapotranspiration. They are recharging atmospheric H2O, which gives us perspiration.”

Carmen Lamoureux, Verge Permaculture.

Without our forests, we have no rain. She continues:

“If your trees are not very high up, they don’t have enough pumping action, not enough biomass in a way to produce this biotic pump and to evapotranspire enough moisture to create a shift in weather systems and produce rain.”

Carmen Lamoureux, Verge Permaculture.

Because of their purpose, Christmas trees are not allowed to get too high. In addition, taller trees with deeper root systems are able to store more carbon.

Many worldwide have become as intimately and repeatedly familiar with out-of-control wildfires as we have here, and my heart goes out to you. It is heart-wrenching and devastating for wildlife and people who lose their dwellings, and horrendous for our health and well-being.

Some say a ‘pro’ (to Christmas tree farm operations) is that often more trees are planted when one is cut down. Here’s the thing. The Planet is not in the once healthy and vibrant state it was when this tradition began to sprout and spread across the globe.

What if we stop doing this and continue planting more trees and create regenerative landscapes?

When this Empath sees a lovely tree(s) discarded after their short-lived usefulness (to humans) is over, a part of me dies.

Life force in whatever form it takes shape in desires to live.

Specially built facilities are required to process the number of trees after they have been tossed to the curb.

Some places are selling rooted trees that can be replanted in the Spring. What if, year after year, we don’t have room in our yards for a yearly addition of large trees?

Another beautiful thing about trees in a forest is they shade the soil and enhance moisture, which enhances the functionality of our essential soil microbes and cycling nutrients. They won’t be active if the soil is exposed, dead, and dry, like in a monocrop tree farm.

Trees have the ability to act as important water filters for this Planet.

Christmas tree farms cannot and will never be able to mimic a forest’s perfect balance and harmonious perfection.

As I started writing this, I remember hearing that the large, beautiful tree cut down yearly in New York in 2022 had an owl found in it. I am sure the owl was terrified as it clung to the branches, and the owl (family) would have preferred to have the tree remain where it was!!

I have had many Christmases enjoying up close and personal trees. Of course, I see the value in traditions in our lives. For me, this is mainly about the times we live in and our knowledge about the importance of intact ecosystems. So I wonder:

Is there a time when we need to reassess or modify a long-standing tradition?

Could we locate the Spirit of the season with trees remaining in the ground?

Could we (if we are able) have our dopamine increased by walking outside, maybe in the forest, enjoying their firmly rooted, strong and vibrant presence, alone or with friends and loved ones?

What if we could enjoy the magical scents trees provide through aromatherapy?

How might we slightly pivot and embrace and create new traditions?

What if Christmas tree farmland could go towards regenerative agriculture?

We did not bring out the fake tree this year. That’s a whole other thing, which has a higher carbon footprint. I can only imagine how many end up in landfills. I did not feel like anything was missing as, to me, feelings of specialness can be cultivated from within.

I walked past this tree left to die again this morning. It has undoubtedly struck a nerve in me. Thank goodness for words to try and make sense of things.

All the best for the new year!

Tamara