On the Virtues of a Small Christmas Tree
Practical
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It is easy to carry (smaller vehicle or even on your shoulder).
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It is less expensive.
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It fits in most rooms or apartments.
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It doesn’t get in the way of normal activities so much.
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It can be placed on a sturdy coffee table.
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Presents and other Christmas paraphernalia can go on the table or under the table, so it is a bit more tidy looking.
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It can be easier to access the electrical plug, to turn lights on and off (not crawling around on the floor, looking for the plug-in).
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It creates less mess from needles falling off and so forth.
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It takes less time and trouble to decorate, without being a dismissal of one of the nice rituals of Christmas.
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It is easier to string lights (less height and width to reach across of up high).
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It requires fewer bulbs, which implies a lesser fire hazard.
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A small “real tree” is a nice compromise between an artificial tree and a flashy tree.
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There is less chance of a toddler pulling the tree down.
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You don’t have to store an artificial tree all year round.
Environmental
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A small tree takes less time to grow and takes up less space at the space taken up at a tree farm.
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It requires fewer inputs (water, fertilizers, etc.).
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It is lighter, so requires less energy to transport to market and from the market to the home.
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It is easier to dispose of once the season is over.
It is a natural object, so no problems about the proliferation of plastic waste.
Philosophical/Moral
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It is less consumerist, which many feel fits the spirit of Christmas better.
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It can be argued that it is a better fit for an environmentalist than a big tree or an artificial tree.
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You get to feel like Charlie Brown.
Of course there are drawbacks.
I think most of those amount to some version of being a tedious nag about the issue:
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(i.e. small tree --> moral purity).
So, please don’t take this as tedious nagging or moralizing. I just felt like writing something Christmassy.
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And to prove that I am not being a moral nag, I will use this opportunity to promote a Christmas story book by writer Helena Puumala.
Miranda and the Christmas Elf
The little pre-school girl, Miranda, is feeling unsafe because of bullies in the neighborliness and family troubles between her mother and father. Can her friend, young elementary grade age Nathan, use his special powers to call on the North Pole for some Christmas Eve magic, to help her out?
The story is a heartwarming Christmas tale, suitable for children and adults, which will bring a little Christmas magic to us all. It is about 9000 words, or around 45 minutes or so, at typical reading speeds.
It is priced at only 99 cents (U.S. or equivalent in other currencies) and is sometimes on free promotion as well.
The book is available on Amazon, at the following links:
Amazon U.S.: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019MCY3RM
Amazon U.K.: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B019MCY3RM
Amazon Canada: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B019MCY3RM
Amazon Australia: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B019MCY3RM
Amazon Germany: https://www.amazon.de/dp/B019MCY3RM
Amazon France: https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B019MCY3RM
Amazon Spain: https://www.amazon.es/dp/B019MCY3RM
Amazon Italy: https://www.amazon.it/dp/B019MCY3RM
Amazon Netherlands: https://www.amazon.nl/dp/B019MCY3RM
Amazon Japan: https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B019MCY3RM
Amazon Mexico: https://www.amazon.com.mx/dp/B019MCY3RM
Amazon Brazil: https://www.amazon.com.br/dp/B019MCY3RM
Amazon India: https://www.amazon.in/dp/B019MCY3RM
