Christmas Tree Shopping -- Humble Art

Not having a Christmas tree to celebrate the holidays is as bad as not having a holiday at all. So when is the best time to buy your tree and where are the best places to go?

The important decision you and your family must make before you look for a tree is an approximate height and whether you choose to get a live tree or a fabricated issue from the local retail stores. If you're going with a "pretend but looks great tree," you should shop as early as Black Friday or alias the day after Thanksgiving to get an idea what tree is best. It's also a good idea to find the right price range to allow yourself enough for gift shopping. Many of the big retail chain stores including K-Mart and Wal-Mart , etc., will allow people to put their item on lay-a-way with no strings or fees attached. Also remember, decorations can be expensive and consider sales at local hardware stores and feed suppliers for inexpensive, special feature well-made lights and trimmings. As much fun as all this activity can be, the hunt for the natural tree can include warm woolen socks and boots, heavy needle proof gloves or mits, i.e., leather or simulated leather issue, and a thermos of hot cocoa, coffee or tea. It isn't acceptable to just stop along the roadside and cut a tree to bring home without permission from the land owner or state forests. In other words, look ahead in the area newspapers and fliers advertising the Christmas Tree farm shopping days. Any bunji cord or plastic wound roping will surely help anchor your tree unto your car, whether secured on the roof or inside a partly opened trunk. Station your tree so it doesn't bounce while being transported. Telephone directories also list places to purchase Christmas trees and decorations as well as holiday magazines and brochures. Also consider roadside nurseries that sell plants in the summer; the stock different in the winter when open, usually trees, decorations and fine porcelain figurines or stars, and long woven mantle stockings are available for purchase.

Christmas tree hunting has been one of those humble arts celebrated in the U.S. from the times of early Americans. It now can be done as a family or circle of friends activity much like spending a day at the ski lodge or ice sporting. Most trees once cut and set into a water-filled stand have a life span of about four or five weeks. So when you trek for your tree, keep in mind the time factor. If your tree has to be cut earlier than usual, leave it standing in a low pail of water outdoors until ready for indoor installation and decoration.

Some places do provide door to door delivery with or without decorations, including mail order companies. With mail-order companies because of the availability of a finite supply, consumers should order by Thanksgiving for delivery shortly after.