Celtic Christmas Trees #81

Raise your sustainable Celtic Christmas tree while listening to Celtic Christmas Music #81.

Joseph Carmichael, Seán Heely, The Barra MacNeils, Cedar Dobson, The McDades, Irish Christmas in America, Brobdingnagian Bards, Screaming Orphans, Mary-Kate Spring Lee, Cherish the Ladies

WELCOME TO CELTIC CHRISTMAS MUSIC

I am Marc Gunn. I am Celtic musician and host of Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. We are promoting Celtic culture through Christmas cheer all year long. That’s right. I am planning bonus episodes in the off-season to keep you in the Christmas spirit throughout 2025.

If you hear music you love, please support the artists. You can find a link to all of the artists in the shownotes as well as how to support this podcast at CelticChristmasPodcast.com

THIS WEEK IN CELTIC CHRISTMAS MUSIC

0:06 - Joseph Carmichael “Snowdrift” from Single

4:36 - WELCOME

5:17 - Seán Heely "Medieval Carols in the Great Hall” from So Merry as We Have Been

9:40 - The Barra MacNeils "O Holy Night” from The Christmas Album

14:23 - CHRISTMAS SHOWS

Last time, I mentioned some of the artists with Celtic Christmas Concerts. I missed Sean Heely, The Barra McNeils, Screaming Orphans, the McDades, and The Irish Rovers. Basically, many of the artists in this week’s episode have Celtic Christmas concerts.

15:17 - Cedar Dobson "Good Christian Men Rejoice/God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/Joy to the World” from A Whistle Wonderland: Christmas Melodies in a Celtic Style

18:13 - The McDades "Snow Snow” from A Winter Collection

23:02 - SUSTAINABLE CHRISTMAS TREES

If you’ve been following me for a while, I am continually looking for more sustainable ways to live. Christmas is a great time to do just that. We Celts have long had an important relationship with the land and our environment. So I’m gonna offer a bunch of thoughts in the coming months.

l read an article on “What’s The Most Sustainable Christmas Tree?” You can find a link in the shownotes.

One of the most-interesting things I read was about Artificial Trees. You might think they are the most-sustainable. But it turns out that they are typically made with some of the worst, most-toxic types of plastic, polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

My family prefers real Christmas trees. But there’s always a catch, isn’t there. The challenge with a regular tree is finding one that is sustainably sourced. Meaning is it shipped from across the country? Or is it locally grown? Or even better, is it a tree you can replant in your yard when the holiday is over?

I’ll be honest. Replanting is more than we will do. However, did you know you can rent a Christmas tree?

Yeah. That’s what I said when I read that. It’s not available in all areas. But it is possible to rent one. Then it will be planted afterward.

If you’re artsy, maybe you can build your own Christmas tree. You could use a plant around the house or build a tree from scrap lumber around the house. Do a search for Christmas tree alternatives and you’ll find a ton of options.

As for disposing of your tree, don’t send those Artificial Trees to the landfill. Instead give it to someone, donate it, sell it or repurpose it. That’s the best way to keep it out of the landfill.

The same goes wit