Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. Here are some fun facts about Christmas trees to share with your family and friends:
- Approximately 25-30 million real Christmas trees are sold each year. Fake tree sales average between 10 and 15 million per year.
- In 1856, Franklin Pierce was the first American President to place a Christmas tree in the White House.
- The use of small candles to light Christmas trees dates back to the mid 1700’s.
- 98 percent of all Christmas trees are grown on farms. There are more than 15,000 Christmas tree farms in the U.S.
- Approximately 100,000 people are employed full or part-time in the Christmas tree industry.
- Oregon, North Carolina, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Washington, New York and Virginia are the top Christmas tree producing states.
- 93 percent of real Christmas trees are recycled in community recycling programs.
- Artificial trees will usually last six years in a home, but for centuries in a landfill.
- The most popular Christmas trees are: Scotch pine, Douglas fir, noble fir, Fraser fir, balsam fir, Virginia pine and white pine.
- Edward Johnson, Thomas Edison’s assistant, came up with the idea of electric Christmas lights in 1882. They were first mass-produced for sale in 1890.
- An acre of Christmas trees provides the oxygen requirements of 18 people.
- It takes six to ten years to grow a mature tree.
- In 1930, U.S.-based Addis Brush Co. created the first fake tree. The company used the same machinery that it used to make toilet brushes.
