Christmas Tree Facts

• Christmas trees have been sold commercially in the United States since about 1850.
• Until fairly recently, all Christmas trees came from the forest.
• In 2002, Oregon, North Carolina, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Washington, New York, and Virginia were the top Christmas tree producing states. Oregon was the leading producer of Christmas trees – 6.5 million in 2002.
• The best selling trees are Scotch pine, Douglas fir, Noble fir, Fraser fir, Virginia pine, balsam fir and white pine.
• More than 2,000 trees are usually planted per acre. On an average 1,000-1,500 of these trees will survive. In the North, maybe, 750 trees will remain. Almost all trees require shearing to attain the Christmas tree shape. At six to seven feet, trees are ready for harvest. It takes six to ten years of fighting heavy rain, wind, hail and drought to get a mature tree.
• In the United States, there are more than 21, 000 Christmas tree growers.
• In the United States, there are around a half billion Real Christmas Trees growing on U.S. farms.
• In the United States, there are more than 12,000 cut-your-own farms.
• In 1979, the National Christmas Tree was not lighted except for the top ornament. This was done in honor of the American hostages in Iran.
• From 1887-1933 a fishing schooner called the “Christmas Ship” would tie up at the Clark Street Bridge in Chicago and sell spruce trees from Michigan to Chicagoans.
• The tradition of an official Chicago Christmas tree was initiated in 1913 when one was first lit by Mayor Carter H. Harrison in Grant Park.
• Since 1966, the National Christmas Tree Association has given a Christmas tree to the President and first family.
• The first decorated Christmas tree was in Riga, Latvia in 1510.
• Growing Christmas trees provides a habitat for wildlife.
• Recycled trees have been used to make sand and soil erosion barriers and been placed in ponds for fish shelter.
• The first Christmas tree retail lot in the United States was started in 1851 in New York by Mark Carr.
• Christmas trees take an average of 7-10 years to mature.
• Christmas trees remove dust and pollen from the air.
• Since 1971, the Province of Nova Scotia has presented the Boston Christmas Tree tree to the people of Boston in gratitude for the relief supplies received from the citizens of Boston after a ship exploded in 1917 following a collision in the Halifax, Nova Scotia Harbor. Part of the city was leveled killing injuring thousands.
• The use of evergreen trees to celebrate the winter season occurred before the birth of Christ.
• Christmas trees are grown in all 50 states including Hawaii and Alaska.
• 100,000 people are employed in the Christmas tree industry.
• 98 percent of all Christmas trees are grown on farms.
• In 1856 Franklin Pierce, the 14th President of the United States, was the first President to place a Christmas tree in the White House.
• President Coolidge started the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on the White House lawn in 1923.
• In 2002, 21% of United States households had a real tree, 48% had an artificial tree and 32% had not tree.
• 73 million new Christmas trees will be planted this year.
• On average, over 2,000 Christmas trees are planted per acre.
• You should not burn your Christmas tree in the fireplace; it can contribute to creosote buildup.
• Other types of trees such as cherry and hawthorns were used as Christmas trees in the past.
• Artificial trees will last for six years in your home, but for centuries in a landfill.
• There are over 500 Christmas tree growers in Illinois.
• In 2002, over 144,000 real trees were harvested in Illinois.
• Using small candles to light a Christmas tree dates back to the middle of the 17th century.
• Nineteenth century Americans cut their trees in nearby forests.
• Thomas Edison’s assistant, Edward Johnson, came up with the idea of electric lights for Christmas trees in 1882.
• Christmas tree lights were first mass produced in 1890.
• In 1963, the National Christmas Tree was not lighted until December 22nd because of a national 30-day period of mourning following the assassination of President Kennedy.
• Teddy Roosevelt banned the Christmas tree from the White House for environmental reasons.
• In the first week, a tree in your home will consume as much as a quart of water per day.
• Michigan ranks third (2.4 million trees in 2002) among all states in the production of real Christmas trees, but grows a larger variety (13) of Christmas trees than any other state.
• A Christmas tree decoration was banned by the government. Tinsel contained lead at one time, now it’s made of plastic.
• Real Christmas trees are involved in less than one-tenth of one percent of residential fires and only when ignited by some external ignition sources.
• In 1998 more than 32 million Real Christmas Trees were used in the U.S. Of these, only 0.00093% were ignited in home fires.
• 93% of real Christmas tree consumers recycle their tree in community recycling programs, their garden or backyard.
• In the United States, there are more than 4,000 Christmas tree recycling programs.
• In 2007, 23% of real Christmas trees sold were from chain stores, 9% by non-profit groups. 12% from retail lots and 21% from choose and cut farms.
• An estimated 175,000 Real Christmas Trees are sold via e-commerce or catalogue and shipped mail-order.
• In 2007 the retail market value of the 31.3 million trees purchased at the mean average purchase price of $41.50 was $1.3 billion..
• 31.3 million real Christmas trees were purchased in 2007.
• Christmas trees are baled to protect the branches from damage during shipping.
• 34-36 million Christmas trees were harvested in the United States in 2001.
• Helicopters help to lift harvested Christmas trees from farms.
• An acre of Christmas trees provides for the daily oxygen requirements of 18 people.
• In 1984, the National Christmas was lit on December 13th with temperatures in the 70′s, making it one of the warmest tree lightings in history.
• In 1900, large stores started to erect big illuminated Christmas trees.
• Every year since 1947, the people of Oslo, Norway have given a Christmas tree to the city of Westminster, England. The gift is an expression of good will and gratitude for Britain’s help to Norway during World War II.
• The first printed reference to Christmas trees appeared in Germany in 1531.
• Oregon produces the most real Christmas trees. In 2002, 6.4 million trees were harvested in Oregon.
• Oregon led the nation in 2002 with 67,804 acres in Christmas tree production. Illinois had 6,355 acres in production.
• In 2002, 446,996 acres of land in the United States were in Christmas Tree production.
• 2-3 seedlings are planted for every harvested Christmas tree. In 2004 sixty million Christmas tree seedlings were planted by Christmas tree farmers.
• 93% of real Christmas tree consumers recycle their tree in community recycling programs, their garden or backyard.
• In 2007, 84% of Christmas trees purchased were pre-cut and 16% were cut your own.
• 30-35 million Real Christmas Trees are sold in the U.S. every year.

How To Shop the Stores

When it comes to off-price shopping, it’s all about the thrill of the find. Consumers in this economy are seriously re-thinking their shopping choices, and many are realizing there is no need to pay full price for the designer brands and fashions they want. Here are our top tips to help both new and experienced shoppers navigate the world of off-price and learn the best and most efficient ways to find the looks and brands they want for less.

1. Look carefully at the “compare at” value on the price tags. What constitutes a bargain? It’s the mix of the right fashion, a respected brand name, high quality, and a great price. In T.J.Maxx and Marshalls stores, you’ll find the exact same merchandise sold in department and specialty stores, where prices are much higher. By looking at the “compare at” prices you’ll be able to calculate exactly how much money you’re saving.

2. Shop often. Marshalls and T.J.Maxx receive more than 10,000 new items each week (in every store) so you never know when you’ll find the perfect piece. Shopping off-price retailers is like finding a new store full of great deals every time you visit!

3. Get to know your store’s layout. Everyone has their favorite section, whether it is the jewelry counter at T.J.Maxx that features high-end options including 14-kt. gold, sterling silver and semiprecious stones; or Marshalls Shoe MegaShop, which houses thousands of shoes for women, men and children in an easy-to-shop format.

4. Befriend your store manager. Get to know your store manager and they’ll be able to give you the inside scoop on when new shipments arrive so you can grab your favorite brands as soon as they hit the floor.

5. Not sure where to start? Try shopping the displays at the front of the store before easing into the racks. Merchandise in this area is organized by style and designer on four-sided clothing racks. This can be a good place to start as you work your way into the racks to search for even more styles organized by size.

6. Look for the purple tags. Found on all types of clothing and accessories, these tags indicate a piece of elite designer merchandise normally found at upscale department stores. So, when scouring the racks, keep your eyes peeled for the stand-out lavender color to help find your favorite premium brand names.

7. Scan the single queue. Don’t forget to look for last-minute gifts in the checkout line. The “single queue” checkout line is often full of interesting and unique items that can make great gifts, even for yourself!

8. Never, ever, pass up a really good bargain. Our stores receive limited quantities of each item, so merchandise can sell out very quickly. That perfect dress or handbag may not be there the next time. If you change your mind, the stores have very liberal return policies.
from TJMAXX and MARSHALLS

The winter solstice marks the first day of the winter season. On this day, the northern half of the Earth is tilted furthest from the Sun, and the Northern Hemisphere experiences the longest night (or most hours of darkness) of the year. Typically recognized as December 21 in the Northern Hemisphere, it marks the first day of summer in the Southern Hemisphere.

Seasons are major divisions of the year, generally based on periodic changes in weather. They occur due to the tilt of the Earth’s axis (axial tilt) in relation to the plane of its orbit around the Sun. In most of the planet’s tropical and subtropical regions, the amount of rain (precipitation) received defines the seasons, given that this can vary more dramatically than temperatures. Consequently, those regions typically have a dry season and a wet (monsoon) season. In the planet’s temperate and polar regions, changes in the amount of sunlight, which can cause plants to become dormant and animals to either migrate or hibernate, mark the seasons. These regions recognize four seasons: spring, summer, fall (autumn) and winter.

The days on which the seasons change coincide with the days on which the planet’s axial tilt is either closest or furthest from the sun (solstices), and the days when the sun is directly over the Earth’s equator (equinoxes). Seasons in the Northern Hemisphere are opposite of those in the Southern Hemisphere, meaning when one experiences spring, the other experiences autumn.