When we lived in Berlin, December always arrived with a gentle change in the air. Mornings grew crisp, carrying the first hints of winter, and with them came one of our family traditions: choosing our Christmas tree. Throughout the city, small markets selling real fir trees would appear on street corners, and before long, bringing home a real tree had become part of our yearly rhythm.
One December day, we headed to the market near our home. Rows of fir trees stood lined up against a graffiti-covered wallโa scene so unmistakably Berlin. I still remember how amazed I felt the first time I saw such an enormous display of trees. There were no decorations or festive lights, just the quiet presence of the trees themselves, which somehow made the moment feel wonderfully authentic.
As a family, we would wander among them, asking, โWhich one should we get this year?โ Comparing shapes and sizes became a small but cherished winter ritual.
The Surprisingly Entertaining Tree-Wrapping Machine๐ช
Once we chose our tree, another question always followed: How are we going to get this home?
Without a car, carrying a full, fluffy tree through the streets felt impossible.
But Berlin had its own clever solution. After we pointed out the tree we wanted, a staff member lifted it with ease and pushed it into a giant tube-like machine. With one smooth motion, the branches folded in tightly and the tree emerged neatly wrapped in nettingโlong, slim, and suddenly very portable.ย
I was so surprised the first time I saw it that I couldnโt help taking photos. It was practical, simple, and oddly satisfying to watch. The staff even made a small hole in the net near the trunk so we could carry it easilyโquiet kindness in true Berlin style.
Still, walking home with it was quite the workout, so from the following year we strapped the tree onto the back of our bicycle. Scenes like that are surprisingly common in Berlin and always made me smile.
At Home: The Moment the Branches Unfold๐
Once home, we cut open the net and the branches slowly stretched out again, filling the room with the fresh scent of fir. That moment๐ฏ๏ธwhen the cold Berlin air stayed outside and the warmth of Christmas settled into our homeโwas one of my favorites.โค๏ธ
After decorating the tree and switching on the lights, our living room transformed completely. The soft glow brought comfort to the long winter evenings, and on Christmas morning the base of the tree was surrounded by colorful presents. Having a real fir tree felt special, and it became one of the things I truly appreciated about living in Germany.
What Happens Afterward? Germanyโs Eco-Friendly System๐ฑ
Once Christmas was over, the next question appeared: What do we do with this giant tree now?
In Berlin, collection trucks came around in Januaryโa service I found both convenient and very fitting for a country that embraces Christmas so wholeheartedly. But I was still curious about what happened afterward.
I learned that real Christmas trees arenโt cut from natural forests. Theyโre grown on dedicated farms, much like an agricultural crop. For every tree harvested, new ones are planted, and during their years of growth they absorb COโ, which helps keep their environmental impact relatively low.
After collection, the trees donโt become simple waste. In Berlin, theyโre shredded and used as biomass fuel or turned into compostโpart of a thoughtful recycling loop.
And then there was a surprising detail:
A friend once told my husband, โSome Christmas trees become food for elephants.โ ๐ฆฃAt the time, I assumed he was joking๐but it turned out to be half true.
Unused, untreated trees are occasionally given to animals like elephants or goats at certain zoos as snacks or enrichment toys. Hearing this made me smile ๐such a charming mix of practicality and humor, very much in line with the German spirit.
Even in a New Country, the Joy Remains โจ
Choosing a real Christmas tree in Berlin became one of our favorite winter traditions, and it remains a warm memory.๐ฉท
Weโre celebrating Christmas in a different country now, without the street markets and Berlin air, but the excitement of preparing for the holidays hasnโt changed. Iโm already looking forward to seeing what this yearโs tree will be like.
