Now Brexit is coming for your Christmas tree

The Christmas pudding was introduced from Germany by George I in 1714, mince pies can be traced back to the European crusaders of the 13th century, carol is derived from the Old French carole, advent calendars were first used by German Lutherans in the 19th and 20th centuries, Christmas jumpers have their origins in Scandinavia and the first recording of mulled wine can be found in Plautus’s play Curculio, written during the 2nd century BC. Oh, and then there’s the Christmas tree.

The tradition of putting assorted tat under a carpet-spoiling piece of timber can be traced back to 1800, when “good Queen Charlotte”, the German wife of George III, set up the first known tree at Queen’s Lodge, Windsor (not Prince Albert, as it widely thought). And, of course, Britain’s most famous Christmas tree, in Trafalgar Square, has been given to the people of London by the city of Oslo each year since 1947.

And why the history lesson? Because the Christmas tree is in peril. And the culprit? Yep – Brexit.

It was reported this week that UK consumers may face a limited supply of Christmas trees this year, with Brexit-related import challenges casting uncertainty over their import. New trade regulations are increasing the cost and complicating the importation process for the trees, which have long been sourced from the continent.

The EU has historically been a major supplier of Christmas trees to the UK, with Denmark and Belgium in particular exporting a significant number of trees each year. Since Brexit, however, those shipments are subject to new customs checks, extensive paperwork and adherence to updated environmental standards. This has slowed down the process considerably, creating potential delays that could affect the availability of Christmas trees for UK buyers.

“With these new trade barriers in place, UK residents may see fewer Christmas trees on the market and at higher prices,” said Sarhan Basem, trade analyst at Brussels Morning. “Brexit’s impact is becoming increasingly visible in everyday life – even in the availability of traditional holiday items like Christmas trees.”

Labour shortages brought on by Brexit are further straining the supply. Many European seasonal workers previously employed in agricultural sectors across the UK left and never returned. As a result, farms are struggling to harvest and prepare sufficient numbers of trees. Basem said: “Local growers may be able to meet part of the demand, but it takes time to scale up production, and this sudden demand shift is likely to result in price hikes.”

And finally, adding to the challenges are stringent biosecurity and plant health regulations for all imported trees. The UK’s new standards mean that imported Christmas trees must now undergo thorough inspections to prevent the introduction of pests and diseases, which could restrict the types and numbers of trees entering the country. This is particularly relevant to Denmark, one of the UK’s top Christmas tree suppliers, which has cited increased costs due to the compliance checks.

So there you go – allied to all the other misery which Brexit has brought us in recent years, you’ll now have to find something else to hang your baubles from and store your hastily-bought Richard Osman books under this year. Still, at least they won’t be able to take one of our more recently-introduced festive traditions away from us – arguing with relatives over Brexit on Christmas Day afternoon.