Why the most important European market cannot do without the Christmas tree
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Why the most important European market cannot do without the Christmas tree

The capital of Europe - Strasbourg - dressed up for the main Catholic holiday - Christmas. Back in 1570 in exactly this town in the North of the Alsace region, France, the very first Christmas market was held, or as locals call it Christkindelsmärik. However its main attraction is the Christmas tree.  

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                                                             Image credit: noel.strasbourg.eu
 

It is believed that the tradition of decorating trees for Christmas also came from Alsace. In 1527, municipal authorities of another local city of the region - Selestat - signed a decree, according to which foresters could choose and cut small trees for Christmas. Thus, a custom to choose Christmas trees in local forests appeared. 

Christmas without this festive tree cannot be called Christmas, so the French take the choice of a green beauty very seriously. 

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 Image credit: noel.strasbourg.eu


 

The search for a spruce for the fair begins in March, according to the data from noel.strasbourg.eu. Then the head of the production unit of the National Forests Office (Office national des forêts, l’ONF) Henri-Pierre Gangloff travels hundreds of miles through the forests of Alsace, Moselle and Vosges in search of «the best of the best». The minimum height of the tree is 30 meters, and it can weigh from 7 to 9 tons. The three trunk usually reaches 120 cm in diameter. 

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The ONF and its contractors spend about 120 hours preparing the tree for a trip to Strasbourg. The first task is to cut down the huge tree and place it on a trailer.  Two cranes are used for this task - one on each side of the tree - weighing 100 and 50 tons. Before knocking down the tree, it is attached to the cranes so that it does not tip over. The most difficult part of the process is to lay the giant on the trailer without spoiling its appearance. Each branch is neatly folded and tied to the trunk so that the tree can be transported to the city. 

Then, additionally from 50 to 80 branches are collected from other trees, they are implanted in the trunk of the tree to give it a more magnificent appearance. This happens after the tree was installed in the center of Strasbourg. This work takes about 250 hours of work. 

This year, it will be decorated with 7 kilometers of garlands, as well as more than 300 lights and about 40 huge Christmas tree decorations. 

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                                                                Image credit: Natalia Shumova

Christmas tree with its beauty gives joy to many people. But is all this worth the effort? Perhaps local authorities need to think about finding an alternative instead of annual tree felling? We talked about this and much more with the ONF employees who shared their opinion on the topic with EcoTourist Expert.

- How long have you been helping to fell Christmas trees for the Christmas market in Strasbourg?  

- The National Forests Office has been felling Christmas trees for the Strasbourg Christmas market for 15 years now.

- How do you choose the trees? How many years on average does a tree need to grow large enough to become the "chosen one"?

- As a rule, at the beginning several trees are selected at once depending on their appearance, location and beauty. From these selected trees, the organizers of the Christmas market are choosing the best to suit the market standards. Selected trees are usually between 100 and 130 years old.

- What measures do you undertake when felling and transporting the tree to avoid harming the environment?

- The selected tree is usually located on the side of the road and our loggers work in accordance with the environmental standards of our country (in particular, the use of biodegradable oil for mechanisms to avoid pollution).

- Do you plant new trees instead of the felled ones? Do you know how many trees have been cut down in recent years?

- We prefer to stimulate natural regeneration from the seeds of the surrounding trees, which allows us to adapt the young plants to the soil and local climate. We certainly keep records of felled trees. This indicator is extremely important as it corresponds to the number of trees that have reached maturity. We also pre-compile lists of trees that impede the growth of other trees, our future "chosen ones." This is a kind of accompaniment of natural selection. Thus, the forest is restored naturally, and this helps maintain the diversity of plant species.

- Do accidents occur when transporting and installing the tree? What steps are you taking to avoid them? How do you eliminate the risks?    

- Accidents can occur at any stage - from felling to installation of the tree, especially because of its size and weight. All the work is carefully monitored by the project manager and security manager. They adapt the equipment used and installation methods - lifting, fixing, coordination of the fixed sides of the tree - at each stage of the operation.

- Does the constant felling of these old trees affect the environment and forests? 

-The disappearance of large trees is part of the natural cycle of forests: they die or lightning can strike them. Wind or snow breaks them. Thus, they give way to younger trees. The amount of felled trees is insignificant in relation to the total surface of the forest. We always choose Christmas trees from those located near the road.
For technical reasons, and for security reasons, they would still have to be cut down after a few years. We preserve trees in less accessible places and, therefore, less dangerous for the public (full biological reserves, tree aging zones, etc.). Thus, large trees that die in the forest will contribute to the continuation of the natural chain - the spread of plants and animals associated with the decay of trees.

- What happens to the three after the end of the market? What actions do you take to recycle it?

- After dismantling, the tree will be fragmented and used for firewood.

- Do you know how much CO2 is emitted into the atmosphere during the whole process from felling the tree to its disassembling and subsequent processing? 

- A report on carbon dioxide footprint has yet to be worked out. However, according to official figures, a hectare of a forest is able to process about 10 tons of carbon dioxide per year.

- Do you think it is worth cutting down living trees every year or would it be better to create a tree from recycled plastic collected by the residents?

- I think it is better to avoid plastic at all, even if it is recycled. The tree for the market had to be cut down for security reasons, after disassembly the tree will be used for fuel, it will replace fossil fuels. 

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Image credit: noel.strasbourg.eu


The Christmas tree is an environmentally friendly renewable material that benefits the local economy - it creates jobs, has an environmental aspect - gives way to young trees, as well as an aesthetic one - many travellers admired it, perhaps sheltered under it from rain or sun, and now this tree decorates the most important market in Europe!

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