Christmas tree stand

A tree stand comprising:

• a) a supporting base comprised of:
• an annular bottom wall comprising an outer perimeter edge and an inner perimeter edge, an outer wall joined to the outer perimeter edge of the annular bottom wall, and an inner wall joined to the inner perimeter edge of the annular bottom wall and including an outwardly facing surface comprising an upwardly extending threaded cylindrical portion and surrounding an upwardly facing hemispherical socket, the annular bottom wall, outer wall, and inner wall defining an open-topped annular cavity;
• and
• a first fluid communication passageway extending from the annular cavity through the inner wall of the supporting base to the upwardly facing hemispherical socket;
• b) a positioning sphere having an outer surface, a cavity for receiving a trunk of the tree, and a second fluid communication passageway extending from the outer surface of the sphere to the cavity of the sphere;
• and
• c) a compression collar comprising threads engageable with the upwardly extending threaded cylindrical portion of the outwardly facing surface of the inner wall of the base and comprising a flange;
• wherein when the positioning sphere is disposed in the hemispherical socket, and the compression collar is maximally threadably engaged with the upwardly extending threaded cylindrical portion of the outwardly facing surface of the inner wall of the base, the flange of the compression collar is contacted with the sphere and forces the sphere downwardly against the hemispherical socket, immobilizing the sphere in the socket.