Around the first of November, stores begin to fill with holiday décor, red and green decorations, and special holiday sales become imminent. Next comes the Christmas tree. While most people wait until after Thanksgiving week to put theirs up, some die-hard holiday fanatics already have at least one in every room of the house. Each year, millions of real and artificial trees go head-to-head in an ongoing battle to determine which is best. Like most things in life, people tend to feel strongly one way or the other. However, when it comes to Christmas trees, there is nothing quite like the real thing. So, which do you choose: fake versus real Christmas trees?
If you think back to your grandparents’ Christmas tree, it was probably a gaudy white or pink plastic tree on a pedestal that spun around and played Christmas carols. While these were the fashion back in the day, today’s pre-lit array of plastic pines and furs aren’t much better. Some people dismiss the idea of a real tree simply because of the mess it leaves behind. True, falling needles can create a problem in the middle of the living room, but there’s something warm and nostalgic about the smell of pine and the slight imperfections of a real tree that make it feel homey. It’s true that pine needles are a hassle, but a good shop-vac can easily clean them up. As long as the tree skirt is long and you place plastic on the carpet, the floors should fare just fine.
Fake vs. Real Christmas Trees: Safety and Environmental Impact
Others argue that fake trees are safer to have in the home. With all the chlorophylls they emit into the indoor air, this is a serious misconception. When it comes to safety, if the lights on the tree spark a flame, the plastic tree will melt and heat up much faster than the sappy pine, which is thick with natural moisture. Neither tree is completely safe, and both can cause house fires. The rule of thumb is to unplug them at night and never leave them on when you’re not home to supervise. Leaving them plugged in while you’re at work is like cooking your turkey in the oven while you’re away—it might turn out fine, or it might not!
Over the years, environmentalists have supported the fake Christmas tree trend as a way to save the forests. Each year, millions of trees are discarded and wrapped in plastic bags, which seems to only fuel the greed of the season. While it is unfortunate to see these trees lying on the curb waiting for pickup, most communities recycle them and even supply biodegradable wraps so the trees can be reused. It’s a more worthy cause to focus on how much paper one school throws away in a day or how much junk mail you receive in a month than to worry about the cutting of trees for Christmas. When it’s time to replace or upgrade your fake Christmas tree, what will happen to the old one? It will sit in a landfill for decades before it disintegrates, and who knows what will happen to the metallic wires woven throughout. They could very well still be around when our grandchildren’s children are born.
The best solution is to purchase a real tree with roots. Many tree farms around the world sell pines and furs that can be planted in the ground after Christmas. With the roots wrapped in a burlap sack and proper watering while indoors, these trees can be successfully planted in most climates. This ensures that the trees are used for Christmas, not thrown away, and are replanted in the environment they thrive in. There is no waste or greed, and the money spent on your Christmas tree can be reinvested in your landscaping. After a few years, you may even be able to create a pine tree wall to block the view of your neighbor’s pool where they tend to swim naked. Another bonus for real trees in the fake versus real Christmas tree debate.
The Christmas tree tradition actually dates back thousands of years to the time of the Romans. Pagans would decorate their homes with wreaths and bring fir and pine trees indoors to celebrate the Winter Solstice. Legend has it that evergreens helped ward off evil spirits, and candles were used to attract the Goddess of Good Fortune. The Winter Solstice marked the return of the Sun, and evergreens reminded the Pagans that Spring—and the rebirth of life—was just around the corner. As Christianity began celebrating the birth of Jesus around the same time, the two holidays became intertwined, and much of what symbolizes Christmas today actually originates from the Solstice celebration of the Pagans. If they believed that a live tree would bring them good fortune, good health, and invite the Sun into their lives, it’s a good reason to follow their ancient wisdom and use live trees for Christmas. No matter how many pine-scented candles you light around the house, there’s nothing more inviting and comforting than the smell of a freshly cut (or potted) live tree adorning your home during Christmas.
