O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree
You just fell off my SUV
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree
I lost you on Loop 303
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree
What will I tell my family?
The above is part of a Public Service Announcement recently issued by the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT).
Don’t be the unlucky Christmas tree buyer whose tree falls off a vehicle only moments after strapping it to your vehicle’s roof. Set aside the embarrassment or wasted expense because Christmas trees that fall off vehicles are a serious safety hazard that drivers should plan to avoid before bringing their trees home this holiday season.
A brief history of the Christmas tree
Records of using greenery to celebrate the holidays predate the widespread use of the phrase “Christmas tree.” Rural English church records from the 15th and 16th centuries indicate that holly and ivy were bought in the winter—hence the Christmas carol “The Holly and the Ivy.” Private houses and streets were also decorated with greenery at this time.
Numerous myths surround the origins of Christmas trees. One legend says that Martin Luther believed that pine trees represented the goodness of God. A popular myth in the 15th century tells the story of St. Boniface who in the 8th century thwarted a pagan human sacrifice under an oak tree by cutting down that tree; a fir tree grew in its place with its branches representing Christ’s eternal truth.
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But the real origins of Christmas trees appear to be rooted in present-day Germany during the Middle Ages. In 1419, a guild in Freiburg put up a tree decorated with apples, flour-paste wafers, tinsel, and gingerbread. In “Paradise Plays” which was performed to celebrate the feast day of Adam and Eve that fell on Christmas Eve, a tree of knowledge was represented by an evergreen fir with apples tied to its branches.
But the image of a decorated Christmas tree with presents underneath has a very specific origin: an engraving of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and their children gathering around a Christmas tree eyeing the presents underneath published in The Illustrated London News in 1848. The premier women’s magazine in America back then, Godey’s Lady’s Book, reprinted a version of the image a couple of years later as “The Christmas Tree.”
References to Christmas trees in private homes or establishments in North America date back to the late 18th century and early 19th century.
The dangers of transporting a Christmas tree
ADOT reminds drivers to make sure they’ll get home with their tree—and without putting others at risk. Every December, crews remove trees that become hazards after they weren’t properly secured to a vehicle and fell to the roadway. Those dislodged spruces or firs can become obstacles that trigger crashes as drivers swerve to miss the detached trees.
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An improperly secured Christmas tree is a road hazard waiting to happen. Loose trees can move around while you drive, obstructing your view, and causing an accident. Trees can also fall off and become a hazard on the road, causing accidents when other drivers have to swerve around them.
While Christmas trees are only a roadway hazard for a limited time of the year they are part of a larger problem with roadway debris. And even if the crash is minor and doesn’t cause any bodily harm, a tree can cause thousands of dollars in vehicle damage. Plus dropping a tree on the road is against the law in all 50 U.S. states, often resulting in fines up to $5,000 or possible jail time.
Road debris like Christmas trees was responsible for 39,000 injuries and 500 deaths over a 4-year span. You don’t want to ruin the holidays for yourself or someone else because you failed to secure your tree.
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According to AAA survey, an estimated 84 million Americans (33 percent) will purchase a real Christmas tree and of those:
- 44 percent of Americans who plan to purchase a real Christmas tree will transport the tree using unsafe methods
- 20 percent will tie the tree to the roof of their vehicle without using a roof rack
- 24 percent plan to place the tree in the bed of their pickup truck unsecured
- 16 percent have previously experienced a Christmas tree falling off or out of their vehicle during transport
How to transport a Christmas tree safely
Whether you have a permit to cut down your own tree from a national forest or you’re buying one that’s already been cut make sure to pack strong rope, tie-downs, or nylon ratchet straps. Trees wrapped with netting are easier to secure to a vehicle’s roof, so consider having it wrapped or bring your own materials.
When placing the tree on a vehicle, point the top to the back of the vehicle. Then strap the tree near its base, close to the top, and in the tree’s middle. Tug on the tree to test your work. Pull from different angles to ensure it is snug and make adjustments if needed.
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Conclusion
Whether your perfect tree resembles Charlie Brown’s simple spruce or something out of a Hallmark movie, you need a safe way of getting it home. The best tree safety steps involve securing the tree to a roof rack or stuffing it inside your car. But many people transport their trees in other ways that are simply dangerous.
Worth Pondering…
Freshly cut Christmas trees smelling of stars and snow and pine resin – inhale deeply and fill your soul with wintry night.
—John J. Geddes