Feather Christmas tree

<h2 id="history">History</h2>
Feather Christmas trees were first created in <a href="/facts/Germany/paluuWBX">Germany</a> in the 1880s<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:1" href="#fn:1">1</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2">2</a> or 1890s<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3">3</a> and are regarded as one of the first types of artificial Christmas trees.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4">4</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5">5</a> These first artificial trees were, in part, a response to growing environmental concerns in the late 19th century concerning <a href="/facts/Deforestation/L1TNhN9p">deforestation</a> associated with the harvest of Christmas trees in Germany.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6">6</a> The tradition of feather Christmas trees was brought to the <a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5">United States</a> by <a href="/facts/German_American/KoI8oW3Y">German immigrants</a> in places such as <a href="/facts/Pennsylvania/HGqC5bBm">Pennsylvania</a> and <a href="/facts/Texas/B987WHF0">Texas</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7">7</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8">8</a>
Feather Christmas trees became popular during the early 20th century,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9">9</a> and were sold by department stores in the United States.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10">10</a>
Benefits touted for feather trees included the elimination of a trip to the tree lot and the lack of shed needles.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11">11</a> Today, feather Christmas trees are valued as a collectible <a href="/facts/Antique/NnTklacs">antique</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12">12</a> One 90-centimeter (36-inch) German tree sold at auction in 2008 for $230.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13">13</a>

<h2 id="design">Design</h2>

Feather trees were initially made of green-dyed <a href="/facts/Goose/wrfeyJT2">goose</a> <a href="/facts/Feathers/sxbf96nF">feathers</a> which were attached to wire branches.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14">14</a> The feathers were split and then secured with wire to form the branches.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15">15</a> These wire branches were then wrapped around a central <a href="/facts/Dowel/3QzE6W6M">dowel</a> which acted as the trunk.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16">16</a> The branches were widely spaced to keep the candles from starting a fire, which allowed ample space for ornamentation.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:17" href="#fn:17">17</a> Feather Christmas trees ranged widely in size, from a small 5-centimeter (2-inch) tree to a large 2.5-meter (98-inch) tree sold in <a href="/facts/Department_store/1W8nv8ub">department stores</a> during the 1920s.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:18" href="#fn:18">18</a> Often, the tree branches were tipped with artificial red berries which acted as <a href="/facts/Candlestick/6g356Lvq">candle holders</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:19" href="#fn:19">19</a>

<h2 id="further-reading">Further reading</h2>
<ul><li>Crews, Barbara. "<a href="http://collectibles.about.com/od/holidaycollectin1/ig/Feather-Trees/">Feather Christmas Trees: Pictures, Prices and Patents</a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20081022053515/http://collectibles.about.com/od/holidaycollectin1/ig/Feather-Trees/">Archived</a> 2008-10-22 at the <a href="/facts/Wayback_Machine/nmQ3a6JC">Wayback Machine</a>", <a href="/facts/About.com/Fgc1JCqI">about.com</a>, accessed March 28, 2009.</li>
<li>Mueller, Thomas G. "<a href="http://library.ndsu.edu/grhc/history_culture/custom_traditions/germantree.html">Grandpa Salomon's German Christmas Tree</a>", Germans From Russian Heritage Collection, <a href="/facts/North_Dakota_State_University/jqMXUye1">North Dakota State University</a> Libraries, updated December 18, 2008, accessed March 28, 2009.</li></ul>
<h2 id="external-links">External links</h2>

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Feather Christmas trees.

<ul><li>"<a href="http://www.bhg.com/holidays/christmas/trees/country-mitten-feather-christmas-tree/">Country Mitten Feather Tree</a>", (Image of 1930s Feather tree), <a href="/facts/Better_Homes_and_Gardens_(magazine)/qk0QfWUd">Better Homes and Gardens</a>, accessed March 28, 2009.</li>
<li>"<a href="http://migration.kentucky.gov/NR/exeres/46939402-493C-4E71-A337-6224FD746754.htm">Joanne Hobbs Creates Goose Feather Christmas Trees at Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea</a>", (<a href="/facts/Press_release/cq4a38CC">Press release</a>), Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea, via <a href="/facts/Kentucky/DaTW05Rt">Kentucky.gov</a>, November 25, 2008, accessed March 28, 2009.</li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1">Leiser, Amy. "The Pennsylvania Christmas Tree[permanent dead link‍]", Monroe County Historical Association, December 2005, accessed March 28, 2009. <a href="http://www.monroehistorical.org/articles/files/ea0ac5d12455fc7a3935b3c345311d4c-34.html" target="_blank">http://www.monroehistorical.org/articles/files/ea0ac5d12455fc7a3935b3c345311d4c-34.html</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:2">John, J. A Christmas Compendium, (Google Books), Continuum International Publishing Group, 2005, p. 129, (ISBN 0826487491). <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=yBP8a2jJ9A4C&dq=feather+christmas+trees+germany&pg=PA129" target="_blank">https://books.google.com/books?id=yBP8a2jJ9A4C&dq=feather+christmas+trees+germany&pg=PA129</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:3">Marling, Karal Ann. Merry Christmas!: Celebrating America's Greatest Holiday, (Google Books), Harvard University Press, 2000, pp. 58–62, (ISBN 0674003187). <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=EUc13_ourtYC&dq=feather+christmas+trees+germany&pg=PA58" target="_blank">https://books.google.com/books?id=EUc13_ourtYC&dq=feather+christmas+trees+germany&pg=PA58</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:4">John, J. A Christmas Compendium, (Google Books), Continuum International Publishing Group, 2005, p. 129, (ISBN 0826487491). <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=yBP8a2jJ9A4C&dq=feather+christmas+trees+germany&pg=PA129" target="_blank">https://books.google.com/books?id=yBP8a2jJ9A4C&dq=feather+christmas+trees+germany&pg=PA129</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:5">Silverthorne, Elizabeth. Christmas in Texas, (Google Books), Texas A&M University Press, 1994, p. 62, (ISBN 0890965781). <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=9G-58ECNgTUC&dq=feather+christmas+trees+germany&pg=PA62" target="_blank">https://books.google.com/books?id=9G-58ECNgTUC&dq=feather+christmas+trees+germany&pg=PA62</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:6">John, J. A Christmas Compendium, (Google Books), Continuum International Publishing Group, 2005, p. 129, (ISBN 0826487491). <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=yBP8a2jJ9A4C&dq=feather+christmas+trees+germany&pg=PA129" target="_blank">https://books.google.com/books?id=yBP8a2jJ9A4C&dq=feather+christmas+trees+germany&pg=PA129</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:7">Leiser, Amy. "The Pennsylvania Christmas Tree[permanent dead link‍]", Monroe County Historical Association, December 2005, accessed March 28, 2009. <a href="http://www.monroehistorical.org/articles/files/ea0ac5d12455fc7a3935b3c345311d4c-34.html" target="_blank">http://www.monroehistorical.org/articles/files/ea0ac5d12455fc7a3935b3c345311d4c-34.html</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:8">Silverthorne, Elizabeth. Christmas in Texas, (Google Books), Texas A&M University Press, 1994, p. 62, (ISBN 0890965781). <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=9G-58ECNgTUC&dq=feather+christmas+trees+germany&pg=PA62" target="_blank">https://books.google.com/books?id=9G-58ECNgTUC&dq=feather+christmas+trees+germany&pg=PA62</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:9">John, J. A Christmas Compendium, (Google Books), Continuum International Publishing Group, 2005, p. 129, (ISBN 0826487491). <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=yBP8a2jJ9A4C&dq=feather+christmas+trees+germany&pg=PA129" target="_blank">https://books.google.com/books?id=yBP8a2jJ9A4C&dq=feather+christmas+trees+germany&pg=PA129</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:10">Silverthorne, Elizabeth. Christmas in Texas, (Google Books), Texas A&M University Press, 1994, p. 62, (ISBN 0890965781). <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=9G-58ECNgTUC&dq=feather+christmas+trees+germany&pg=PA62" target="_blank">https://books.google.com/books?id=9G-58ECNgTUC&dq=feather+christmas+trees+germany&pg=PA62</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:11">Marling, Karal Ann. Merry Christmas!: Celebrating America's Greatest Holiday, (Google Books), Harvard University Press, 2000, pp. 58–62, (ISBN 0674003187). <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=EUc13_ourtYC&dq=feather+christmas+trees+germany&pg=PA58" target="_blank">https://books.google.com/books?id=EUc13_ourtYC&dq=feather+christmas+trees+germany&pg=PA58</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:12">Silverthorne, Elizabeth. Christmas in Texas, (Google Books), Texas A&M University Press, 1994, p. 62, (ISBN 0890965781). <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=9G-58ECNgTUC&dq=feather+christmas+trees+germany&pg=PA62" target="_blank">https://books.google.com/books?id=9G-58ECNgTUC&dq=feather+christmas+trees+germany&pg=PA62</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:13">Wiggins, Pamela. "Feather Christmas Tree Archived 2009-06-06 at the Wayback Machine", about.com, accessed March 28, 2009. <a href="http://antiques.about.com/od/holidaycollectiblespgs/ig/Christmas-Collectibles-Values/Early-German-Feather-Tree.htm" target="_blank">http://antiques.about.com/od/holidaycollectiblespgs/ig/Christmas-Collectibles-Values/Early-German-Feather-Tree.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:14">Marling, Karal Ann. Merry Christmas!: Celebrating America's Greatest Holiday, (Google Books), Harvard University Press, 2000, pp. 58–62, (ISBN 0674003187). <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=EUc13_ourtYC&dq=feather+christmas+trees+germany&pg=PA58" target="_blank">https://books.google.com/books?id=EUc13_ourtYC&dq=feather+christmas+trees+germany&pg=PA58</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:15">Leiser, Amy. "The Pennsylvania Christmas Tree[permanent dead link‍]", Monroe County Historical Association, December 2005, accessed March 28, 2009. <a href="http://www.monroehistorical.org/articles/files/ea0ac5d12455fc7a3935b3c345311d4c-34.html" target="_blank">http://www.monroehistorical.org/articles/files/ea0ac5d12455fc7a3935b3c345311d4c-34.html</a> <a href="#fnref:15" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:16">Marling, Karal Ann. Merry Christmas!: Celebrating America's Greatest Holiday, (Google Books), Harvard University Press, 2000, pp. 58–62, (ISBN 0674003187). <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=EUc13_ourtYC&dq=feather+christmas+trees+germany&pg=PA58" target="_blank">https://books.google.com/books?id=EUc13_ourtYC&dq=feather+christmas+trees+germany&pg=PA58</a> <a href="#fnref:16" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:17">Marling, Karal Ann. Merry Christmas!: Celebrating America's Greatest Holiday, (Google Books), Harvard University Press, 2000, pp. 58–62, (ISBN 0674003187). <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=EUc13_ourtYC&dq=feather+christmas+trees+germany&pg=PA58" target="_blank">https://books.google.com/books?id=EUc13_ourtYC&dq=feather+christmas+trees+germany&pg=PA58</a> <a href="#fnref:17" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:18">Silverthorne, Elizabeth. Christmas in Texas, (Google Books), Texas A&M University Press, 1994, p. 62, (ISBN 0890965781). <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=9G-58ECNgTUC&dq=feather+christmas+trees+germany&pg=PA62" target="_blank">https://books.google.com/books?id=9G-58ECNgTUC&dq=feather+christmas+trees+germany&pg=PA62</a> <a href="#fnref:18" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:19">Marling, Karal Ann. Merry Christmas!: Celebrating America's Greatest Holiday, (Google Books), Harvard University Press, 2000, pp. 58–62, (ISBN 0674003187). <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=EUc13_ourtYC&dq=feather+christmas+trees+germany&pg=PA58" target="_blank">https://books.google.com/books?id=EUc13_ourtYC&dq=feather+christmas+trees+germany&pg=PA58</a> <a href="#fnref:19" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
</ol>

Feather Christmas tree open-in-new

Feather Christmas tree