Everything You Need to Know about Artificial Christmas Trees!
The Christmas tree is a vibrant and beautiful symbol of the holiday season. Evergreens served as the first Christmas trees, and they have endured in popularity through the centuries. But many families are choosing artificial Christmas trees because of their longevity, convenience, and versatility. Don't forget to look for unique personalized ornaments when considereding a tree.
Plastic Christmas trees have been the source of some debate among eco-friendly consumers. While no trees need to be cut down in order to enjoy an artificial tree, the trees themselves are non-biodegradable and usually end up in landfills when they’re no longer wanted. But artificial trees also provide a better bargain and are less likely to cause fires or allergies. Besides that, pre-lit artificial trees are very convenient. Before you decide which type of tree is best for your home, let’s take a look at artificial Christmas trees and how they came into being.
The History of Artificial Christmas Trees
The very first artificial trees were invented in 19th Century Germany. These small trees were fashioned from goose feathers which were dyed green and fastened into wooden sticks to resemble tree branches. Often used as table-top decorations due to their small size, feather trees were invented as a way to reduce deforestation in Germany. They came to America in 1913, thanks to the Sears, Roebuck and Company catalog.
Paint brush companies were responsible for the next phase in artificial Christmas trees. These trees were made from green-dyed animal hair bristles attached to twisted wires that doubled as branches. All of the wire branches were twisted together at their base and stuck into a wooden “trunk”. Modern artificial trees use this same technique, but the bases are now fashioned from metal and plastic.
In the 1960’s, aluminum trees were all the rage. These were the first trees to be made available in designer colors rather than the traditional pine green. Some of the trees proved to be fire hazards when lights were added to them. For this reason, most of the aluminum trees were lighted by a rotating color wheel set near the base rather than by traditional heat-producing bulbs.
The 21st Century has brought with it new concepts in artificial trees. Plastic and metallic trees have been revamped to be more resilient and safer than ever. Tinsel trees have proven popular for consumers who want a colorful or unique Christmas tree. Pre-lit and fiber optic trees have done away with the hassle of stringing up lights. And in recent years, upside-down artificial Christmas trees have been in demand because of their unusual appearance and the amount of space they allow for the placement of gifts.
Modern Artificial Christmas Trees
Tinsel trees are some of the most unique and vibrant modern artificial trees. They come in a rainbow of colors to suit every occasion. Pink trees can be decorated in a princess motif for little girls. Gold trees look quite classy even with minimal decorations. Some tinsel trees are dyed to resemble the American flag. What better way to welcome a soldier home for the holidays?
Most tinsel trees come pre-lit. This maximizes their convenience and minimizes the time spent decorating them. These trees don’t shed like many of their bristly plastic counterparts. They’re also reasonably priced and come in a wide range of sizes and styles. For a tropical Christmas motif, try a pair of pre-lit tinsel palm trees. Tinsel trees represent some of the most irreverent and original ideas in Christmas decorating.
Pre-lit artificial trees use strands of individual bulbs. These come pre-attached to the branches, and only require the customer to plug in the extension cord in order to enjoy the glow of a fully lit Christmas tree. Another option for consumers who want a pre-lit tree is fiber optics. Fiber optic Christmas trees surged in popularity in the late 1990’s. Like pre-lit tinsel trees, fiber optic trees cut out the necessity to climb up and string lights around the branches. Instead, fiber optic trees have lights built into the needles on every branch. These lights change color in a slow but constant rotation, producing a shimmering kaleidoscopic effect all over the tree. Since fiber optic trees produce no heat, they pose little to no risk of fire.
Up-side down Christmas trees are a very unusual alternative to the classic tree. They stand on their tip and branch out at the top rather than at the base. They started as an advertising gimmick for retailers, but customer demand brought them onto the market. Upside-down Christmas trees come in wall, ceiling, and floor varieties. The floor trees fasten into a base like regular artificial Christmas trees, only they do it top-down. The wall-mounted trees are attached to a wall, while the ceiling trees bolt into a fixture high above.
Animated Christmas trees are a popular choice for kids. These trees are typically small enough to fit on a desk or night table. When a button is pressed, the trees shake and shimmy, often accompanied by Christmas tunes. A variation on this theme is the talking Christmas tree. These trees are activated either by buttons or by motion detection. When turned on, they say funny or seasonal phrases. Such trees might not be right for every occasion, but they do earn their share of smiles. Some trees even produce an air flow which blows around tiny Styrofoam beads. These snow-like beads are blown up and over the tree’s branches before coming to rest in a decorative container at the tree’s base. They’re a good choice for families who want their tree to have a charming snow-globe effect.
Artificial Christmas trees have been with us since the late 1800’s. To look over their history is to see a product that was first created in an attempt to protect nature, and which has evolved over time to be an affordable, interesting, and convenient alternative to natural trees. Whether you choose tinsel or plastic, pre-lit or fiber optic, a sturdy artificial tree is sure to please your family and guests for many years to come.
About the Author: Angela Lytle is a sefl employed mother of four and the publisher of Christmas Decorations Online, a website featuring holiday decor from inlfatable Christmas decorations for your font yard to outdoor Chistmas lights to brighten up your home.
