It’s the most…wonderful time…of the year! But really, it is! If you’re anything like me, you wait all year for the Hallmark Christmas Movie Countdown, the dusty attic visits to FINALLY get those Christmas decorations down, and most important – a trip to the local tree farm to find that perfect tree! If you think about it, so many Christmas traditions have evolved from the Christmas tree itself. One of my fondest memories as a child was setting up the choo-choo train around the tree and getting out special ornaments that brought back memorable moments.
A real Christmas tree was never an option when I was growing up because many of my family members had severe allergies. When I was able to buy my own Christmas tree as an adult, you better believe I was heading to the local nursery for a beautiful Doug fir! Not to discount synthetic trees, because manufacturers have nearly perfected them to look like the real deal, but there is nothing that beats the beauty, feeling, and fragrance of a real tree. And a bonus for all of us conservationists out there – think about all of the recycling possibilities with a live tree after the holidays (I hear mulch is in high demand!).
The History of the Christmas Tree
Though little is known about the early history of the Christmas tree, historical research suggests that the Christmas Tree tradition as we now know it began in Germany in the 16th century. Christians would bring decorated trees into their homes, some even constructed into wood pyramids with evergreen and candles if wood was in short supply. Many believe that Martin Luther was the first one to put “lights” on a tree. His inspiration? A winter evening walk looking at the beautiful stars shining through the fir trees. He wanted his family to share the experience so he brought a fir tree back home and placed small candles on it to give it that starlight effect.
It took many years for the Christmas tree to make its way into the homes of Americans. In fact, it wasn’t until 1830 that the first Christmas tree in America was spotted, brought by the German settlers to Pennsylvania, although they had community trees as early as 1747. The years to follow brought on even more exciting change for the Christmas tree, with ornament diversity (Americans using homemade ornaments, German-Americans decorating with apples, nuts and sweets), popcorn garland, and eventually electric Christmas tree lights!
How Sierra Pacific Contributes to the tree tradition
I’m so excited to share how our company contributes to this wonderful tradition each year. As many of you know, Sierra Pacific Industries sustainably manages over 2 million acres of timberland in California and Washington and all of our land is third party certified under SFI (the Sustainable Forestry Initiative). Why is that so important? Because certification programs ensure you, the consumer, that you are purchasing a wood product that has been sustainably farmed. There are so many incredible and fascinating products that Sierra Pacific’s wood fiber is used for (did you know that our incense cedar is used for pencils?!), but something that I recently discovered is centered around Sierra Pacific Industries’ Christmas trees…
Each year, a small number of White Firs are cut and fertilized for companies, cities and families to enjoy. They are soaked in a “top secret” solution that keeps the needles from falling off, while maintaining their rich color. Trees intended for interior use are sprayed with a fire retardant.
The BIG trees from Carlton Christmas Trees
Carlton Christmas Trees out of Burney, CA (founded by John Carlton) has partnered with Sierra Pacific for over 50 years! John’s sons, James (CEO) and Les have taken over the family business, but one amazing thing I learned about their father is that he used to spend ALL year touring Sierra Pacific’s land to find the perfect trees for the company to prep, sell and deliver. Once the tree is cut, there is a crane standing by to make sure it never touches the ground to minimize breakage. On average, a 50-foot tree weighs between 4,000-5,000 pounds, depending on the water content, so post-harvest operations are extremely important.
Carlton Christmas Trees has provided trees for must-see tourist attractions, hotels, and shopping districts across the country. To name a few, The Old Sacramento District Christmas Tree, The Bellagio Hotel Conservatory in Las Vegas, Disneyland, Disney World, and the famous “Alamo” in San Antonio, Texas.
Where can you find one of our trees this year? Carlton Christmas Trees supplied Jack London Square in Oakland, the Bellagio in Las Vegas, and the City of San Francisco, among others. Sierra Pacific Industries also provides trees yearly to local spots, including the Redding, CA tree and other California attractions (some donated by the Sierra Pacific Regional Forestry Districts.) If you are in any of these areas this Christmas and spy a Sierra Pacific Christmas tree, please give us a shout out on social media…Would love to hear from you!
Wishing you Joy, Health, and a fabulous Christmas Tree this Season! 😊
55 foot White Fir at the Alamo in San Antonio, TX
