by Emma, age 9, asks where real trees come from, about the Jutland Peninsula, and Denmark’s tree exports
Dear Santa,
Hej from Aarhus. My name is Emma and I am 9 years old. My teacher told our class that Denmark actually sends real Christmas trees to countries all over the world, and now every year when I see our own tree at home, I wonder if it grew right nearby.
My first question is: where do real Christmas trees actually come from?
My second question is geography: what peninsula is most of Denmark part of?
My third question is from school: why is Denmark the world’s largest exporter of Christmas trees?
I left you aebleskiver again this year, with extra jam, since it worked so well before.
Love, Emma, age 9, Aarhus, Denmark
From the Desk of Father Christmas
Dear Emma, extra jam was a wonderful decision, thank you. Now, let me satisfy your curiosity about your tree’s true origins, and your other questions.
Where do real Christmas trees actually come from?
Most real trees are grown on dedicated tree farms rather than cut from wild forests, and different regions of the world supply different countries. In the United States, Oregon and North Carolina are the biggest producers. In Europe, Denmark plays an especially huge role, exporting millions of trees, particularly a species called the Nordmann fir, to countries across the continent every single year. So your teacher was quite right, and there is a real chance your own tree, or one very much like it, did indeed begin its life not too far from your own home.
What peninsula is most of Denmark part of?
Most of Denmark sits on the Jutland Peninsula, which juts up out of northern Europe, with the rest of the country made up of hundreds of surrounding islands, including the one Aarhus sits on.
Why is Denmark the world’s largest exporter of Christmas trees?
Denmark has ideal soil and a mild, damp climate that suits the Nordmann fir perfectly, a species especially prized for its soft needles that do not drop easily and its lovely full shape. Danish tree farmers have spent decades perfecting the growing and shipping process, allowing them to supply countries as far away as southern Europe and beyond with beautifully shaped trees every winter.
Keep an eye on that tag next time, it might just say Denmark, and I shall see you very soon.
Ho ho ho, Santa
