Discover more about the Pine Tree, the tree that becomes one of the symbols of Christmas when it receives different decorations as December 25th approaches
There’s nothing better than decorating a tree to get into the Christmas spirit. It looks like the decoration
The big day isn’t complete if there isn’t a real tree or even an artificial one with colorful balls and other decorations.
In Brazil, the most common Christmas trees are tuias or cryptomerias, which are part of the group
of conifers, the same as the so-called true pines that exist in the northern hemisphere.
Why is the Pine Tree one of the symbols of Christmas?
The pine tree was probably chosen as a symbol of Christmas because it is one of the few plants that keep their leaves even during the coldest times. Pine trees have special adaptations to
face the cold. The needle-shaped leaves are covered in a type of wax that prevents freezing and water loss through transpiration.
The cone-shaped canopy allows snow to slide from higher to lower parts without clumping.
accumulate. Flexible branches are also important, so the weight of the snow doesn’t cause them to break.
Pine trees do not produce fruit, but rather male and female cones that protect the seeds. When they become ripe, the seeds can fly with the wind and end up far away, because part of their shell develops a wing-like shape.
icy forests
Most of the pine forests are in the north of the planet. They are usually dark, as
The trees are so close to each other that light has difficulty passing through. On the ground, herbs, mosses, lichens and fungi grow.
Many animals choose these regions to live. Among them, reindeer, squirrels, elk, lynx, hares, wolves and bears. Birds such as woodpeckers and owls, as well as insects, also live there.
Full of Stories
Many centuries ago, ancient people decorated trees with flowers and pieces of metal at festivals. But no one knows for sure when the tradition of decorating pine trees at Christmas to represent life and rebirth began.
One of the best-known stories says that the custom arose in Germany, when a religious man walked through a forest on Christmas Eve and saw, through the branches of a tree, stars shining in the sky. Then, he had the idea of taking a plant home and decorating it with small candles. Afterwards, the tradition spread throughout the world.
Curiosity:The needle-shaped leaves have a protective wax and the cones hold the seeds.
Read also: Around the world: What is Christmas like in other countries?
Source: Recreio
