Germans are buying more Christmas trees than ever before. 29.3 Tannenbaums were sold this year so far, some 100,000 more than the year before, according to official numbers by the Central Association of the German Timber Industry.

The increased sales are due to factors such as the increased number of singles households, the trend to the second tree in the house, the increased number of households with children. But not only has the number of trees sold changed. The tradition of decorating the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve no longer exists in more and more German households. The trees are now being erected at homes during the Advent season to prolong the Christmas feeling. Every Christmas there is also a debate in Germany whether to buy a tree in a pot and plant it somewhere or a cut tree. In major cities in Germany you can also rent a tree in a pot and thereby treat yourself to the good feeling of having saved a tree.