For many French people, it is a ritual for the month of December (or even November for those in a hurry): the purchase of a Christmas tree.
Symbol of the end of the year celebrations, it is often a must-have for families.
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The tradition
of the Christmas tree
was born in Alsace during the 16th century.
Now, each year several million conifers are sold in France.
Today, various types of trees are available.
But so many choices can be crippling ... How to choose your Christmas tree?
Should we opt for a natural or artificial tree?
For a wooden tree?
Here are some tips for choosing the one that best suits your interior and your desires.
Read also Where does the Christmas tree come from?
How to choose the size of your tree?
Before opting for a
natural
, artificial or even homemade tree, first choose the size of the tree.
If it should not obstruct the passage, the Christmas tree is made to be seen.
It is therefore necessary to find the ideal place for it: majestically in the living room, in small format in the entrance etc.
You are then free to add a second one in a bedroom, a hallway, an office ...
Once the location of your tree has been chosen, analyze the possibilities offered by the room: what height under the ceiling?
What ground availability?
Will there be enough room to move around once the gifts are placed underneath?
Also consider that a tree too small for the room may go unnoticed or will look ordinary.
Quite the opposite of the expected effect!
Here are some indications to better choose the height of your tree.
What height of tree to choose?
For centerpieces or to decorate a dresser, a sideboard etc. | Less than 1m10 |
For small living rooms, bedrooms, hallways and small spaces | Between 110 and 170 cm |
For rooms with low ceilings | Between 170 and 200 cm |
For medium height ceilings (ceilings are located on average 2.5m high) | Between 200 and 230 cm |
For rooms with high ceilings | Between 230 cm and 3 m |
For exceptional spaces, public spaces etc. | More than three meters |
What diameter for my tree?
Also remember to check the wingspan of your tree, which can be thin or bulky.
If you don't have a lot of space,
artificial half-trees
can be a solution: you can lean it against a wall or place it in a corner.
How to choose between a natural and an artificial tree?
It's all a matter of taste.
Aesthetics, longevity, maintenance, practicality and cost are also to be taken into account.
If you are wondering which one is the most ecological, know that it is not necessarily the most sustainable tree that is the least harmful to the environment.
Read alsoNatural or artificial fir: which is the least harmful for the environment?
There are
several species of Christmas tree
.
Which species to choose?
Who is the one who “holds” the best?
Which one smells good?
Nordmann
For several years, he has been the darling of the French.
Thanks to its resistance to heat, its supple and soft needles do not fall to the ground before D-Day. It is therefore more expensive than its cousin the Spruce.
On the other hand, it has little odor.
Spruce
With its good smell of resin, it is the traditional fir.
It is very good value for money.
On the other hand, it does not withstand overheated interiors quite poorly and its needles can fall quickly.
It is also easy to replant.
Read alsoNordmann vs spruce, the match of the fir trees
Picea pungens or blue fir
This blue-green Christmas tree with silvery reflections has been very popular in recent years, thanks to its pyramidal shape.
It smells very good but its needles are quite stiff and prickly.
Be careful when decorating.
Nobilis or noble fir
This fragrant conical tree has beautiful bluish thorns, which "hold" for a long time.
However, they can flex a bit, so it is best to hang the decorations higher on the rod.
Douglas
With its flexible branches, the Douglas-fir sometimes seems less dense than its cousins.
But that can be an advantage in a clean or contemporary interior.
Cut, in a pot ... In what form to buy your Christmas tree?
Many French people buy cut trees.
It is then necessary to choose a support to keep them upright.
Often the logs are already pruned and inserted into a log.
The fir tree can also be chosen as a root ball: its roots are retained by a flexible netting or a fabric.
It is thus kept longer.
Purchased in a pot, it can be replanted.
Be careful, in their natural state, these trees can become big ...
Where to find a natural tree?
Many businesses offer natural Christmas trees, such as florists, garden centers, nurserymen but also DIY stores and supermarkets.
Nurserymen and producers also offer to come and cut your own tree on their domain.
»READ ALSO -
Making a success of your Christmas tree: the wise advice of the
Figaro
in 1885
What is the price of a natural tree?
The price of a natural fir varies greatly depending on its size and species.
Small spruces can cost around thirty euros, while a small Nordmann will cost around 50 euros.
A 1.5m Douglas can cost 45 euros.
A 2 meter spruce tree can cost 65 euros while a Nordmann will cost between 75 and 90 euros.
A Nordmann of 2.5m to 3m can cost 130 euros or more.
Read also The manufacturing secrets behind your natural Christmas trees
How to choose an artificial Christmas tree?
There are all types of artificial trees.
Very low-priced models imported from China for around fifteen euros with very beautiful creations which look more real than life but which can cost more than 2000 euros, there is an aesthetic gap!
It's up to you to make your choice according to your budget and your desires.
Many sites offer artificial trees: in addition to the usual shopping platforms, decoration stores also offer them.
By choosing an artificial tree, you will have the advantage of choosing a tree that can better integrate into your home if it is small.
The so-called "slim" trees have a small diameter compared to their height and thus fit into a hallway or entrance.
Half-firs can lean against a wall, sacrificing half of their circumference.
The trend for homemade Christmas trees: in wood, drawn, to print ...
With the confinement, a new craze for DIY and manual work at home appeared.
And with it, a new trend for “home made” trees, especially in wood.
If these are available in DIY or home decor stores, you can also create them yourself.
Wood for crates, driftwood, ribbons, cardboard, paper, Christmas balls hanging from the ceiling, piles of books… Anything is possible.
