<Li> <P> Christmas baubles </P> </Li> <P> Each year, 33 to 36 million Christmas trees are produced in America, and 50 to 60 million are produced in Europe . In 1998, there were about 15,000 growers in America (a third of them "choose and cut" farms). In that same year, it was estimated that Americans spent $1.5 billion on Christmas trees . By 2016 that had climbed to $2.04 billion for natural trees and a further $1.86 billion for artificial trees . In Europe, 75 million trees worth € 2.4 billion ($3.2 billion) are harvested annually . </P> <P> The most commonly used species are fir (Abies), which have the benefit of not shedding their needles when they dry out, as well as retaining good foliage color and scent; but species in other genera are also used . </P> <P> In northern Europe most commonly used are: </P>

Why do you decorate a tree at christmas