Spare a thought this festive season for the many living trees that are sacrificed to serve decorative and religious purposes for a few weeks or sometimes days and then tossed out. There is nothing in this Pagan origin Xmas tradition, that presupposes the tree has to be killed. For goodness sake, get a living specimen and plant it. Living trees are nice, yet there is unfortunately all too often, a strange hostility directed towards them.
They face efforts to stunt, prune and poison them wherever they grow in the suburbs. Tall trees, the loveliest, are particularly resented and are often killed on questionable pretexts such as; a branch might fall, falling leaves, interrupts view, blocks light, untidy, maintenance cost, attracts wildlife, obstructs architecture.
Trees are actually fantastic living sculptures that frame, not obstruct, the view and provide a wonderful no maintenance arena to see birds and wildlife in the natural setting. If the leaves are thin cover or deciduous then light passes through although subdued and gloomy forest light effects from conifers and thickly wooded areas have unique beauty and provide mood lighting with no artificial parallel. They are also wind control devises and barriers and groups are most effective and less likely to fall.
The Xmas tree slaughter reflects a society that has lost the instinct for life. Artificial trees will not compensate or solve the loss.
The living tree is a good thing to celebrate and they have served people much better than religion ever will.
