Sara Maitland

Why do we pine for Christmas trees at this time of year?

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Are you in one of the eight million households across the UK who feel that a ‘real’ Christmas tree is an essential part of the festivities? (This figure does not include the Christmas trees in public spaces, most famously the annual gift-from Norway that stands in Trafalgar Square.)

I certainly and shamelessly am. It is odd. Most, though by no means all, of these trees are sold ‘cut’ and rootless. We are killing a tree to celebrate birth, or at least the turning of the year towards springtime and new life (the winter solstice takes place at Christmastide – 21 December this year – which is why Christianity chose that date for its festival.) The symbolism is awry!