Before you chop it down...
Before you chop down or buy a Christmas tree that takes anywhere from 4 to 15 years to grow, think of alternatives to this Pagan or Christian tradition. The Paradise tree ( fir tree with apples ) represented the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden for the Christians version and the Pagans used the branches to decorate their homes during the winter solstice as a reminder that spring was coming soon. With the first recorded modern reference to a tree back in Germany 1531, it may be time to update an age old tradition for 2017. There are plenty of creative alternatives that work this season but If it is something you cannot fathom then make a child's room a little more festive or a corner of your home that may need some holiday cheer...
