Home

Kwanza

Hanukkah

Tree Trivia

– Christmas trees have been sold commercially in the United States since about 1850.

– In 1979, the National Christmas Tree was not lighted except for the top ornament. This was done in honor of the American hostages in Iran.

– Between 1887-1933 a fishing schooner called the Christmas Ship would tie up at the Clark Street bridge and sell spruce trees from Michigan to Chicagoans.

– The tallest living Christmas tree is believed to be the 122-foot, 91-year-old Douglas fir in the town of Woodinville, Washington.

– The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree tradition began in 1933. Franklin Pierce, the 14th president, brought the Christmas tree tradition to the White House.

– In 1923, President Calvin Coolidge started the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony now held every year on the White House lawn.

– Since 1966, the National Christmas Tree Association has given a Christmas tree to the President and first family.

– Most Christmas trees are cut weeks before they get to a retail outlet.

– In 1912, the first community Christmas tree in the United States was erected in New York City.

– Christmas trees generally take 6-8 years to mature.

– Christmas trees are grown in all 50 states including Hawaii and Alaska.

– 100,000 people are employed in the Christmas tree industry.

– 98 percent of all Christmas trees are grown on farms.

– More than 1,000,000 acres of land have been planted with Christmas trees.

– 77 million Christmas trees are planted each year.

– On average, over 2,000 Christmas trees are planted per acre.

– You should never burn your Christmas tree in the fireplace. It can contribute to creosote buildup.

– Other types of trees such as cherry and hawthorns were used as Christmas trees in the past.

– Thomas Edison's assistants came up with the idea of electric lights for Christmas trees.

– In 1963, the National Christmas Tree was not lit until December 22nd because of a national 30-day period of mourning following the assassination of President Kennedy.

– Teddy Roosevelt banned the Christmas tree from the White House for environmental reasons.

– In the first week, a tree in your home will consume as much as a quart of water per day.

– Tinsel was once banned by the government. Tinsel contained lead at one time, now it's made of plastic.

– In 1984, the National Christmas Tree was lit on December 13th with temperatures in the 70s, making it one of the warmest tree lightings in history.

– 34 to 36 million Christmas trees are produced each year and 95 percent are shipped or sold directly from Christmas tree farms.

– California, Oregon, Michigan, Washington, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina are the top Christmas tree producing states.

– The best selling trees are Scotch Pine, Douglas Fir, Fraser Fir, Balsam Fir, and White Pine.