Large fresh Christmas trees should be of excellent quality, and good farmers will make sure that such trees are uniform in shape so that they look particularly attractive when decorated and/or lit up. The UK’s most popular real Christmas trees, the Nordmann fir and the Norway spruce, are both readily available in larger sizes, as is the Noble Fir. Such trees look beautiful both inside and out, and many retailers offer a professional installation service, saving buyers the hard work.

Many large fresh Christmas trees also come professionally pre-lit and/or pre-decorated, for those that want the extra ‘wow’ factor but none of the hard work. And lot of Christmas tree suppliers provide a recycling service where used trees are collected, chipped and reused, either as garden mulch or boiler fuel. If buying a real large Christmas tree, use a provider who is a member of the BCTGA (British Christmas Tree Growers Association) to ensure quality and freshness.

Artificial large Christmas trees are available in many styles, and these range in height from 10 feet to around 40 feet. There are indoor and outdoor versions available, and these are usually made to order. Such trees are available plain or pre-lit with LED lights and/or decorated for that professional look. Obviously, with a large Christmas tree, safety is paramount and so it is imperative that such trees are secured properly, whether indoors or outdoors. Outside, trees are usually held in place with surface bolts and wire extensions that secure the tree to a surface, or an additional base frame may be used with sandbags or cement blocks. The artificial large Christmas tree may be dismantled after use and stored in wooden cartons for future use.

There is a relatively new large artificial cone tree on the market, and this has colour-coded screw-on connections for ease of assembly. When disassembled, the pieces of the frame store neatly inside one another, reducing the amount of storage space needed. As well as being very convenient, these cone trees are very attractive and lights and Christmas tree decorations may be added to the frame for extra effect.

Where people buy their tree depends on various factors such as whether an artificial or real Christmas tree is required, but many families are increasingly ordering online. There are many advantages of ordering your Christmas tree over the internet, from scope of choice to being able to compare prices and offers – it also a very convenient way of ordering a tree for the busy family of today, who would rather relax in the comfort of their own home than brave the Xmas crowds!

There are many different kinds of online Christmas tree shop, from the superstores that sell both real and artificial trees to the specialist retailer that sells one or the other. Some larger online stores offer additional services such as Christmas tree delivery and recycling after use, with many even offering installation and decoration services for a modest fee. Fresh Christmas tree retailers generally operate online in the two months running up to Christmas, whilst those selling artificial Christmas trees are open all year round. If you do buy a real tree online, buy as late as possible to ensure freshness.

Whatever tree you choose online, make sure that any Christmas tree shop you buy from is reputable. If you buy a real Christmas tree, only use retailers that are members of the BCTGA (British Christmas Tree Growers Association) – this is an assurance of freshness and quality. In the case of other retailers, look for well-established stores that offer excellent customer service along with a no-quibble refund or exchange, should you not be happy with your tree or any other goods bought.

Online Christmas tree shops are big business due to their convenience, choice and value, and as a result online Christmas tree sales are increasing every year.

Just like its larger counterpart, the small Christmas tree comes in many styles, sizes and designs, with both real and artificial versions available. The smallest real Christmas trees are the pot-grown versions, and these seldom grow over 3 feet. They need to be regularly watered, just like any other house plant, and look just as lovely as a full size tree when decorated. A distinct advantage of the pot grown tree is that it comes with roots and so can be planted and enjoyed in the garden after Xmas.

Miniature Christmas Trees

There is a huge range of small artificial Christmas trees, with ‘small’ usually referring to anything less than 4 feet in height. From the contemporary coiled wire mini Christmas trees in smart metallic colours to the barbie pink 2-3 foot Christmas tree adorning many little girls’ bedrooms, and the huge scope of choice in between. Pre-decorated; pre-lit; fibre optic; snow covered; frosted – just like the regular Christmas tree, the small Christmas tree comes in all these choices.

A miniature Christmas tree can evoke the spirit of the festive season just as well as a larger one, and they are in big demand worldwide. The 12 inch desktop LED Christmas tree looks lovely in the office (especially if each desk has one) and only requires one battery, and the fibre-optic USB miniature tree also looks equally as lovely in the home or office – simply plug into the USB port of your computer to see a gorgeous display of colour.

Whilst the small Christmas tree may lack in size, it really matches the larger Christmas tree in terms of character and style.

Real Christmas Tree

Pros: Excellent choice                            Cons: Needles may be sharp

Fresh green foliage                                            Require a lot of care

Lovely pine scent                                               Only last over Xmas

Gorgeous bushy/full foliage

Evokes the spirit of Christmas

Slight fire risk as tree dies out

Artificial Christmas Tree

Pros: Huge scope of choice                     Cons: May work out expensive initially

Convenient                                                          Lack of pine scent

Require little/no maintenance                              Non-biodegradable

Last for years (value for money)

Fire retardant

Excellent for those allergic to real trees

Taking into account these factors when choosing your Christmas tree should make the decision much easier – then you have the even harder task of deciding on your Christmas tree decorations and lights!

Cultivating Christmas trees is a long, drawn-out process, and so Christmas tree growers really do have their work cut out. From seed, it takes between 8 and 12 years to grow a 7-foot tree, depending on the species. Seeds are usually grown in nurseries for 3 to 4 years before the Christmas tree farm buys them, and then they are planted and cultivated on the farm for the remainder of the time. The outcome depends on species of tree, soil type and weather conditions, amongst other things such as cultivation techniques.

In the UK, providers of quality Christmas trees can be identified by the BCTGA logo. The BCTGA (British Christmas Tree Growers Association) is the trade association for those who grow fresh Christmas trees in the UK and is an assurance that only the freshest trees are available for sale. Such trees are grown in accordance with the BCTGA environmental code of practice, meaning they are guaranteed fresh and will last around 4 weeks.

If you only stick to Christmas tree growers that are members of the BCTGA, then you should have no problems at all with your real Christmas tree. Once trees are cut they begin to slowly lose their freshness, and good farms leave the cutting of their Christmas trees as late as possible. Better still, if you go to a farm where you can choose your tree before it is cut down, you will be sure that your cut Christmas tree is as fresh as can be. UK-based Christmas tree growers work hard to ensure that they offer a wide variety of tree, and these include the popular Norway spruce and Nordmann fir, as  well as other species such as the Noble fir; Fraser fir; Lodgepole pine; Scots pine; Serbian spruce and Blue spruce.

Economy Tree Delivery (Tree in Box)

Buying your Christmas tree online is no different to going to a store and buying one – you still have the same customer rights and the quality of the goods should be as described –the only difference with online Christmas trees being that you get to choose one from the comfort of your own home and escape the stress of jostling crowds in the process!

If you do decide to buy your Christmas tree online, make sure you do your homework and that any site you use is a reputable one – many good online retailers are listed on the British Christmas Tree Growers Association (BCTGA) website, so this would be a good place to start. Buying over the Internet is more risky than buying in person, in the sense that you cannot actually see or feel the item in question, so make sure you read item descriptions carefully before buying. Ensure that any site you buy from offers a no quibble exchange or refund if goods are faulty or not as described, as this offers peace of mind should things go wrong with a sale.

As long as you use only reputable Internet retailers, buying online and getting your Christmas tree delivered should be a thoroughly positive experience.

Nordman Fir

By the 12^th century, Christians in Central Europe were hanging the fir tree upside-down at Christmas time as a symbol of Christianity, and in modern times the Nordman fir is the most popular of the fir Christmas trees, having overtook the Norway spruce in terms of popularity. The Nordman retains its needles better than any other fir, it has bright green glossy needles that are soft to the touch, a lovely symmetrical shape and a gorgeous scent, and all these factors make it a favourite with families.

There are other species of fir Christmas tree, and one of these is the Noble fir. The beautiful Noble fir is popular due to its thick, soft foliage and and pleasant fragrance – as its foliage is so dense, the Noble fir is also used to make wreaths, door swags and other such Christmas products. The Fraser fir is another popular choice with families, due to its appealing appearance, nice fragrance, strong branches, soft needles and attractive blue-green foliage. A distinct advantage of this tree is that its strong branches can hold heavy decoration.

The Grand fir, also known as the giant fir, is popularly used as a Christmas tree in several American states. The beautifully thick foliage

Noble Fir

is a glossy green and attractively scented, with soft needles, and delicate branches. Because of this, only light ornaments can be hung from this tree. The Douglas fir has long been used as a Christmas tree in the United States, and this lovely conical species has soft, shiny green needles and a beautiful sweet scent. This tree is trimmed into an almost perfect cone shape, so it can be difficult to get ornaments on branches, but this does not seem to detract from its popularity.

The fir Christmas tree is popular worldwide, and has been so since the history of the Christmas tree began.

Christmas day is recognised as Christ’s birthday, and thus it is a very important day of the year for Christians. In turn, Christ’s birth brings to mind Christmas Carols, Nativity Scenes and midnight mass, and all these are very special to Christians and evoke feelings of peace and harmony.

Christmas is also a special time for the non-religious. The spirit of Christmas is associated with glistening snow, robin redbreasts, snowmen, jolly Santas, fairy lights, outdoor decorations, candles, crackers, roaring log fires; the list is endless. The smell of cinnamon is also found to remind many people of Christmas: in fact, it has been claimed that candles, carols and the smell of cinnamon are the things that primarily evoke the Christmas feeling. What exactly does cinnamon have to do with Xmas? Well, it has long been used in Europe to flavour Christmas cakes and mince pies, thus it’s distinctive aroma is instantly recognisable.

Talking of food, there are many types of delicious mouth-watering food associated with the spirit of Christmas. Turkey, goose, mince pies, rich Christmas pudding and cakes, cranberry and bread sauce, brussels sprouts, gingerbread, brandy butter, chestnuts – its enough to make you feel hungry!

In addition to the tantalising range of foods above, there are some drinks traditionally served at Christmas – two that spring to mind are mulled wine and egg nog. Mulled wine is basically red wine heated up with sugar and spices, of which cinnamon is one (nutmeg is also added). Egg nog is a mixture of milk, eggs, sugar, brandy and vanilla, and may be served hot or cold. Both these drinks are sure to warm your insides on a cold winter’s night!

Everybody would agree that Christmas would not be Christmas without a Christmas tree. The Christmas tree has been associated with Christmas since the 16^th century, and an angel or star is often placed on top to signify the Star of Bethlehem or the angels from the Nativity. The evergreen pine tree especially evokes the Christmas spirit, with its distinctive pine smell. Today, there are trees to suit every household, even contemporary black trees for the modern home.

The true spirit of Christmas is created by a little bit of all the above. A roaring log fire, a choir singing carols in the market square, twinkling lights in windows and lovely food and drink all help to make Xmas a really special time. However, the loveliest part of Christmas is spending quality time with family and friends, exchanging thoughtfully chosen gifts – after all, being surrounded by those we love at such a special time is what Christmas is all about – and don’t forget the mistletoe!

Handmade Tree Decoration

The idea when decorating your Christmas tree is to be selective. A tree that has a clear decorative theme and colour scheme looks very attractive and effective, whilst a tree that has many decorations of different colours plonked on its branches can look overwhelmingly overdressed. Things to think about before choosing a decorative theme for your Christmas tree include whether you want to go with traditional or contemporary, and colours you would like to use – this may or may not be dictated by current trends or the décor in your home. Once you have thought about this, choosing your tree decorations should become a whole lot easier.

For a special touch to your Christmas tree, why not consider making your own tree decorations? Children and grandchildren can join in on the fun, and almost anything can be used to make tree decorations: eggshells; egg boxes; card; paper; glitter; paint; cotton wool – let your imagination run away with you as you make unique decorations for your tree. If you need inspiration, there are many online craft sites providing great ideas for tree decorations – why not check them out? Handmade tree decorations are not only unique and eco-friendly; they also provide a sense of sentimentality, especially if made by little ones.

If you like the idea of eco-friendly tree decorations but do not have the time or inclination to make your own, there are retailers who sell such decorations. For example, Nigel’s eco store is an online store that sells Christmas tree decorations made from recycled circuit boards and CD’s. Not only do these look funky and unique, they are saving the environment – don’t forget your low energy Christmas lights!

The first metallic Christmas trees were introduced in the late fifties and these were strips of aluminium or aluminium-coated paper attached to metal poles, which were then suspended from a central wood or aluminium pole. These trees posed a great fire hazard, especially if used with lights, so families used to use a spotlight or floodlight to illuminate their tree, sometimes with a motorised rotating colour wheel to give the effect of different coloured lights

Today, the majority of tinsel trees is made from flame-retardant materials and so can safely be used with lights. However, there are always unscrupulous traders who sell Christmas trees which do not meet safety standards, so always make sure any tinsel tree you buy is fire-retardant and meets all other safety requirements. One advantage an artificial tree has over a real tree is that a real tree poses more of a fire hazard, due to the drying-out process.

The artificial tinsel Christmas tree is ideal for those who have an allergy to real trees and they can be used year upon year. Aside from these practical advantages, the tinsel tree looks very attractive and decorative, with its shiny branches twinkling in the light.

The tinsel tree comes in many styles and colours, including black and purple, so the buyer is spoilt for choice. Some tinsel trees are pre-lit, adding to their attractiveness, and save the owner the hassle of adding their own. Some of the more contemporary ‘pop-up’ Christmas trees simply consist of tinsel wrapped around a wire frame, and these are surprisingly effective.