Bisnode Christmas Tree Analysis Christmas trees are an indispensable symbol of Christmas and of the holiday atmosphere. Decorating the Christmas tree is one of the most well known and most popular family traditions. We researched the origins of this tradition, the most popular species of Christmas trees and we calculated the investments necessary for growing them. We developed a special CHRISTMAS TREE INDEX that provides information on how many Christmas trees can be bought for the average net salary in the countries Bisnode operates in. This Bisnode analysis will help you become a...
...Christmas tree expert!
Christmas Tree History BC The Ancient Egyptians protected and worshipped evergreen trees. During the winter solstice (the longest night in the year), they would bring green palm branches, which symbolised the victory of live over death, into their homes.
The Ancient Romans’ celebration of the winter solstice was called ‘Saturnalia’ in honour of Saturn, the god of agriculture. On this occasion, they decorated their homes with evergreen branches and exchanged gifts.
Do you know? The legend of how the tradition of decorating Christmas trees started In many pagan religions, it was believed that trees were the homes of gods and spirits. It is not known when the tradition of decorating Christmas trees started, but there are legends. According to one of those legends, St Boniface saved a child from being sacrificed to the pagan god Thor. He destroyed the oak tree around which the pagans had gathered and on that spot a small fir tree sprouted – the tree of life representing the eternal life of Christ.
Riga, 1510
River Daugava
The first decorated Christmas tree, Riga, Latvia The tree was decorated with colourful ribbons, dried flowers, straw dolls and dried fruit.
The marking in the centre of town next to the Church of St Peter
around 1610 The invention of small, shiny tree ornaments made out of silver.
1851 The start of the commercialisation of Christmas trees. Mark Carr, a farmer from the Catskills, drove two ox carts
1846
full of evergreen trees to New York and sold all of them.
The newspapers published a photo of Queen Victoria next to a Christmas tree after which many people in England and the US started to put up Christmas trees in their homes.
1870 Glass Christmas tree decorations, manufactured in Germany, came into fashion. The wealth of a family was
1880 The manufacture of artificial Christmas trees began in Germany in order to stop people from cutting off the tops of trees, as a way of preventing the destruction of forests. Industrial producers of brushes in the US soon started to use their machinery for the widespread manufacture of Christmas trees.
judged according to the amount of such decorations.
1882
Electric tree lights were patented in the US, as well as wire hooks for hanging decorations.
1958
The first artificial trees made out of aluminium were manufactured, with Christmas trees being white instead of green for the first time.
Fir, pine, spruce – which one to pick as your Christmas tree? There are over 100 species of pines in the world. The most commonly bought and grown Christmas trees in Croatia are: NORWAY SPRUCE (picea abies)
SILVER SPRUCE (picea pungens)
NORDIC PINE – CAUCASIAN FIR (abies nordmanniana)
The Norway spruce grows
The silver spruce is the most common
An increasingly popular choice due to its
in Northern Europe and in
choice for our buyers due to its looks and
resilience to high temperatures that enables the
mountainous regions of Central
density. Its needles are very sharp, but this
needles to stay on longer. They fall off 4 weeks
and Southern Europe. It is also
is a very resilient tree that people often buy
after the tree was cut, but this also makes the
grown outside of its natural
in planters so that it can replanted after the
tree more expensive. It is a favourite choice
habitats as it grows very quickly
holidays.
thanks to its dense needles and rich branches.
(twice as fast as other species). It is a popular Christmas tree choice as it has the most intense scent. It is also the most affordable tree. In Croatia, it is an indigenous species.
How to spot the differences? Look at the needles!
SPRUCE
SILVER SPRUCE
NORDIC PINE – CAUCASIAN FIR
square needles that are easy to twist between fingers
the needles of the silver spruce stay on for much longer than those of the common spruce
flat, smooth branches with two white stripes on the bottom
a pointy top of the tree with hanging branches supporting cones
dark-green, densely lined needles
the needles are bluish in colour
the needles are not sharp, they are longer, shiny and take a long time to fall off
they are not individually lined along the branch, like it is the case with the fir or the spruce
Shopping Tips WHEN SHOPPING FOR A CHRISTMAS TREE, PAY ATTENTION TO:
BEFORE DECORATING Cut trees
Trees in planters
It is best to keep your tree
Such trees should also be gradually
• the form, the shape needs to
somewhere in the open, possibly
acclimatized to the temperature conditions in
be compact and regular
in a dry place like a garage,
your living room (for example, leave it outside
before it is time to decorate
at 0°C first and then move it to the garage/
• check whether the tree looks
it. If you want your tree to last
basement at 10°C and then, finally, take it
fresh, that is, check its colour
longer, use a stand that makes
to the living room at 20°C). Water the tree
– the more dark green the
it possible for the tree to be
regularly. When you wish to plant it or move
better, or silver in the case of
watered.
it to the balcony, repeat the acclimatisation
the silver spruce
procedure in the reverse order.
Christmas Star Flower The Christmas Star Flower (Poinsettia) was discovered by Spanish conquistadors who sailed to the coast of Mexico, but it was only later that it gained its popularity. In the 19th century, the first US ambassador to Mexico Joel Robert Poinsett used it as a decoration. Its name is derived from the fact that the coloured leaves on the top appear right about Christmas time. How to take care of the Christmas Star Flower? The Stars are perennials and they can last much longer than for just one season if properly cared for:
Water moderately
Place the Star where it will be exposed to the daily rhythm of light – it must have light when it is day outside, and has to be in the dark during the night.
Do not place it next to a radiator or AC unit.
The story of mistletoe
Numerous Nordic and Celtic legends mention this plant, which has been ascribed divine properties – virility and fertility. The druids, Celtic priests, considered it to be holy, a remedy that can alleviate all ailments. During ceremonies, the priests would use golden knives and scythes to cut it. It was also used by Hippocrates in his healing preparations. In folk medicine, mistletoe is known to sooth nerves, ease cramps and improve sleep. Today it is used in treating carcinoma. It is said that kissing under the mistletoe on Christmas brings luck.
Christmas Trees World Records On December 19th, 2015,
The most expensive
The biggest
4,300
Christmas tree ever
artificial Christmas tree
was put up at the Emirates Palace
was the one put up for Christmas in
people in India formed
in Abu Dhabi (UAE) in 2010. The
China in 2015. Including the star on
the figure of the largest
13-meter tall tree was decorated with
top, the total height of the tree was
$11,026,900 worth of jewellery.
56 meters.
Christmas tree ever with their bodies.
Christmas Tree Index -
How many average sized Christmas trees can be bought for the average salary?
Tree Index among
90 average Christmas trees for the
the analysed
average salary. This is the best Christmas
countries is 49.
Tree Index among all analysed countries.
87
61
Sweden
Norway
Germany
58
65 Belgium
57 Austria
50 Finland
49 Average
37
Denmark
*In Denmark, you can buy approximately
72
Slovenia
32 Poland
31 Croatia
Slovakia
28
Average Christmas
Swizerland
26 Hungary
Czech
25
90
European demand for Christmas Trees: 50 million per year Top 5 producers (in million Christmas trees) Great Britain
4.4 Germany
19,0 Denmark
8.5 Belgium
5.2
France
9.2
Investment in 1 hectare of Christmas Tree Plant Adequate number of planted Christmas trees:
3.000
Average period before harvesting:
Average total production costs:
Average waste:
Average profit after 10 years:
7 years
12.000 €
25%
10.000 €
*If you invest in Christmas Tree Plants, first of all you have to be patient.
*After an average of 10 years, you can count on approximately €10,000 profit per hectare.
The total area of the EU is 432.5 million hectares.
EU – 175 million hectares of utilised agricultural area
Potential EU planting capacity 3000 Potential number of Christmas trees per hectare.
This would satisfy the current demand for Christmas trees in Europe for almost
one million years.
525,000,000,000,000 Potential capacity of the EU for planting Christmas trees – (525 trillion)
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