Faux fir: the fake Christmas tree
Every December holiday traditionalists and new age modernists duke it out over what type of greenery best will hover over their Christmas presents.
That's right; the battle over authentic versus artificial Christmas trees is on.
The birth of the artificial tree dates back to the 1880's in Germany when the country was faced with a dwindling fir tree industry. Germans developed a goose feather tree and the trend skipped over the pond to America a few years later. In typical American historic fashion, the Addis Brush Company expanded on the goose feather version and developed a tree made from the same machinery that produced toilet bowl brushes. Apparently the wiry material was better for holding heavier decorations.
Over the next hundred-plus years the artificial tree proved more popular in some decades than others. For example, the 1960's saw a sharp increase in artificial tree sales when modernist décor took over the industry with silver aluminum trees, which had built-in, revolving lights at the bottom that reflected different colours off the incandescent tree.
The allure of the artificial evergreen is compelling. They don't shed needles, they don't need to be watered, some come with lights already installed, and you can even buy pine-scented spray to add to the authenticity. Fake trees are convenient and that is what today's hectic society apparently wants.
According to MSNBC, in 1990 the market was almost split down the middle with 35.4 million American households (Canadian figures were unavailable) taking home a real tree and 36.5 million households opting for the artificial version. By 2000, 32 million homes were sporting real evergreens, while the market for fake trees rose to 50.6 million. Last year the number of real Christmas trees dropped to 23.4 million.
Thanks to better quality and a more lifelike appearance, fake trees have dominated the industry and every season the trends become more outrageous.
This year a company called Hammacher Schlemmer can't keep their novel up side-down artificial trees in stock. Originally manufactured for department stores that required more floor space, the up side-down version can either be hung inverted from the ceiling or on the floor with a specially made base. The pre-lit version with metal stand sells for over $500 (US) and is available at www.christmastreeforme.com.
The website also features realistic looking spiral trees, sparkling white trees, Douglas Firs, Blue Ridge Pines and Majestic Firs.
Although the fake versions are taking over the Christmas tree market, there is still something to be said about the traditional Charlie Brown looking tree. Going to a “choose and cut your own” farm and picking out a live tree, which fills a house with the natural smell of Christmas, is a tradition most families have upheld for hundreds of years. There is an allure to the scratches and cuts one gets from trying to string the lights and hang the decorations. That effect is just not the same when a family trudges down the basement or crawl space to get the preassembled plastic tree out of a box.
That's right; the battle over authentic versus artificial Christmas trees is on.
The birth of the artificial tree dates back to the 1880's in Germany when the country was faced with a dwindling fir tree industry. Germans developed a goose feather tree and the trend skipped over the pond to America a few years later. In typical American historic fashion, the Addis Brush Company expanded on the goose feather version and developed a tree made from the same machinery that produced toilet bowl brushes. Apparently the wiry material was better for holding heavier decorations.
Over the next hundred-plus years the artificial tree proved more popular in some decades than others. For example, the 1960's saw a sharp increase in artificial tree sales when modernist décor took over the industry with silver aluminum trees, which had built-in, revolving lights at the bottom that reflected different colours off the incandescent tree.
The allure of the artificial evergreen is compelling. They don't shed needles, they don't need to be watered, some come with lights already installed, and you can even buy pine-scented spray to add to the authenticity. Fake trees are convenient and that is what today's hectic society apparently wants.
According to MSNBC, in 1990 the market was almost split down the middle with 35.4 million American households (Canadian figures were unavailable) taking home a real tree and 36.5 million households opting for the artificial version. By 2000, 32 million homes were sporting real evergreens, while the market for fake trees rose to 50.6 million. Last year the number of real Christmas trees dropped to 23.4 million.
Thanks to better quality and a more lifelike appearance, fake trees have dominated the industry and every season the trends become more outrageous.
This year a company called Hammacher Schlemmer can't keep their novel up side-down artificial trees in stock. Originally manufactured for department stores that required more floor space, the up side-down version can either be hung inverted from the ceiling or on the floor with a specially made base. The pre-lit version with metal stand sells for over $500 (US) and is available at www.christmastreeforme.com.
The website also features realistic looking spiral trees, sparkling white trees, Douglas Firs, Blue Ridge Pines and Majestic Firs.
Although the fake versions are taking over the Christmas tree market, there is still something to be said about the traditional Charlie Brown looking tree. Going to a “choose and cut your own” farm and picking out a live tree, which fills a house with the natural smell of Christmas, is a tradition most families have upheld for hundreds of years. There is an allure to the scratches and cuts one gets from trying to string the lights and hang the decorations. That effect is just not the same when a family trudges down the basement or crawl space to get the preassembled plastic tree out of a box.
