When a field of Christmas trees is approaching maturity, the tree farmer will identify the trees ready for harvesting by using different colored flags or ribbons. Each color corresponds to a different height tree. Frequently a field is not harvested at one time. It can take as long as two to four years before an entire field is cleared and ready for new plantings.
After the tagged trees are cut, they are then bundled during a baling process. During baling, the tre is placed in a machine that binds them with twine so they are easier to ship. After baling, the trees are taken to a loading area where they are loaded on trucks and finally shipped to retail lots around the country.
It takes years of effort for a Christmas tree farmer to produce a tree. Most trees must grow for twelve to fifteen years before they are ready for harvest. But, in the end, it is all worth it. Christmas trees are a vital part of the environment, plus they bring a natural beauty to our homes during the Christmas season.
The Christmas trees that show up on retail lots are actually grown on Christmas tree farms and plantations all around the country. It takes years of effort to produce a tree that is of high enough quality to become a Christmas tree. Christmas trees begin in a nursery, where seeds are taken from the cones of existing trees, planted & covered with straw. After several years, the seedlings can be moved to areas called line out beds. These line out beds let the seedlings continue to grow without any other vegetation competing for sunlight or water. They stay in the line out bed for about two years or until they are sturdy enough to be moved to the field.
The trees will spend approximately seven to eight years in the field. In this time, the farmer will work at shaping the trees. The trees will undergo a process known as shearing after they have reached a height of three feet. What is shearing, well the leader, or top of the tree is cut back to slow the upward growth of the tree. By doing so, the tree will branch out quicker. As it branches out, the farmer will trim and shape the tree.
It can take up to twelve years of growth before a seven to ten feet tall Fraser Fir will be ready for harvesting.
Today, most Hanukkah menorahs have eight branches (each holds one candle for each night of Hanukkah) plus a spot for the shamash, or the special candle that lights the others. History has given us some strict guidelines for choosing the sacred symbol that is our Hanukkah menorah, and it is important to follow these rules when choosing your family’s menorah.
Tradition tells us that the eight candles of the menorah need to be in a straight line and at the same height. The candles should be spaced evenly, none touching, so that each flame burns on its own. The shamash is allowed to be slightly higher than the other eight candles. There are many types of menorahs on the market today, including some very pretty and decorative ones that have the candles in varying shapes and at differing heights. No matter how attractive, these non-traditional menorahs do not adhere to the historic requirements regarding menorahs used to celebrate Hanukkah.
It is also important that your menorah be made of a “clean” material, such as glass or metal. Earthenware menorahs may be used, but only one time. After they have been used once, they must be discarded because they are then considered to be “unclean.”
By choosing an appropriate menorah for your family, you will help maintain the Jewish tradition of Hanukah and you’ll demonstrate respect for the symbolism of the menorah.
