Monday, Dec. 08, 2003
Festooning an evergreen with ornaments is one of the universal customs of the season. Germany can claim credit for the modern version of the Tannenbaum, and Queen Victoria's German-born consort, Prince Albert, helped popularize the practice in Britain and beyond. But evergreen trees, wreaths and garlands were also used by the ancient Egyptians, Chinese and Hebrews to symbolize eternal life. So whatever your reason for deciding to bring a bit of the forest into your home this season, if you're in the market for a 1.8-m pine, balsam or fir, here's what you can expect to pay for it in different parts of the world:
Paris' Monceau Fleurs flower shop chain, which sells trees during the holiday season, says the going rate is around $40
New Delhi's tree guys are charging about $20
$20 is also the average price for a genuine Tannenbaum in Germany
In South Africa, where Christmas falls in the middle of summer, many people simply place ornaments and lights on their garden pines. This year, a fir complete with roots (so it can be planted after it has done its Christmas duty) is $75
In Japan, tree prices are at their steepest. Expect to pay around $150 for that fine fir
In congested Hong Kong, apartments big enough to accommodate a tree are rare. But Anglo Chinese Florist imports trees from Oregon, which supplies much of the American market. A 1.8-m Douglas fir will cost about $85; a noble fir of the same height a sizeable $100
In Britain, prices rose this year after growers lost much of their crop to the heatwave. A 1.8-m Norway spruce, the most popular variety, will cost at least $25. But if those garden-centre specimens are a little too spindly for your taste, there's always the fake fir option. A 1.8-m "decorated silver and gold fibre optic tree" will set you back $85 at U.K. retailer Argos.
- Aisha Labi
- Spruce up the living room with the most festive of all vegetation ... a Christmas tree
