Many will agree that the New Year without a Christmas tree is like a car without an engine. But here's the dilemma: which Christmas tree to choose? Remain committed to tradition or take care of the environment?
Advantages and disadvantages of artificial Christmas tree
In all respects, it may seem that this is an ideal spruce. She is beautiful, can be of various designs and colors, does not crumble and looks spectacular even after ten years. It seemed that what could go wrong?
It is believed that the World Tree became the prototype of the New Year tree - Yggdrasil - the center of the universe and a symbol of the structure of the Universe. His crown went into the world of the gods, the roots were in the world of the dead.
But there can be nothing perfect in the world, and even in such a thing as artificial spruce there are drawbacks.
In our country, the New Year tree appeared thanks to Peter I in 1699.
Firstly, the first problem of non-living spruce is that it absolutely does not have this frosty New Year's fragrance, which in our country causes an elevated festive mood.
The technology for producing artificial spruce was similar to that used in the production of the most common toilet brushes. The only difference was that for a decorative product, the artificial bristles were painted green.
But beyond that, an artificial Christmas tree can be a health problem. Consisting of polyvinyl chloride, when heated, it releases harmful carcinogens into the air, which are dangerous for our respiratory tract.
The fashion for decorative artificial Christmas trees was first born in Germany. At the peak of the massive felling of spruce trees, they began to create trees from the feathers of geese, which were painted green.
But still, it has the most important advantage: this tree will never crumble and can save you a large amount of money that you would spend on live New Year trees. Here is such an investment in the future.
Living spruce as a tool for awakening New Year's nostalgia
A wonderful New Year's fragrance, which not only evokes pleasant memories, but is also considered healthy due to the presence of flavonoids, is what we love in living trees.
The first decorations of the spruce were ordinary apples. Later, sweets in beautiful wrappers, cookies and other sweets began to be used.
But, agrees, cutting down a tree that is useful for our environment for just a couple of days is real blasphemy. Among other things, living spruce is blasphemy not only for the environment, but also for our wallet, which is rapidly “losing weight” for the New Year holidays.
Since January 1, in Finland, special cars have been driving city streets collecting discarded Christmas trees. After their disposal, more than 10% of Finns receive heat and hot water at the beginning of the year.
But in addition to all these problems, the spruce has the ability to crumble and leave its prickly needles around the entire perimeter of the house, which makes walking around the house unbearable.
In Mexico City, there are mini-factories that process used Christmas trees into fertilizers. For each tree handed over, a resident of the Mexican capital receives a flower pot.
But if you decide that a live tree should be at your holiday, then the best option would be to do with a few twigs that will give a wonderful aroma, New Year's atmosphere and save forests from massive deforestation.
Alternative Christmas tree options
If this year you wanted variety, then it's time to connect your imagination and dress up indoor plants with New Year's tinsel.
Most spruce needles are flat, but in some species they have four faces. There are no triangular needles in fir trees.
Believe me, this option is the best you can think of if you are too lazy to manipulate the Christmas tree.
