As Christmas is rapidly approaching, people are starting to put up their Christmas trees. The big debate begins: is it better to use a real Christmas tree or a fake Christmas tree? Well, a real Christmas tree costs around $50. Now this is definitely less expensive than the $200-500 fake Christmas tree, but which is more bang for your buck in the long run? Fake Christmas trees can last for 10-20 years (unless mice like to munch on your tree like they did to our tree), so let’s assume they last for fifteen years. If you buy a $350 tree, that is an average of $23 per year. In the long run, fake trees are cheaper than real trees.
Now one downside of fake trees is that they do not have the tree smell. If you are really attached to the smell of trees and want to have the authentic smell in your home, the real tree would be the way to go. Anya Marino ‘24 states: “Real trees all the way. Why? The smell of course! You can’t have a Christmas tree without the tree smell.” However, Dr. Millay believes one should “get [a] fake tree with a really good candle. That way you still get the tree smell!”
Environmentally, fake Christmas trees are worse for the environment as they take a lot of resources to create. The plastic and metal do not decompose and pollute the oceans and earth for a long time. Trees also are usually shipped from far places such as China which leaves a large carbon footprint. On the contrary, real trees may not be the best idea if you live in a hot environment. In places such as California where the temperature is 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit regularly, real trees would live for a very short period of time. Wildfires may also wipe out Christmas tree farms, leaving not many trees left for purchasing. You may think that real trees are bad for the environment because you are cutting down trees, however, it is really good for the environment. By cutting down trees, there is more space for new trees to be grown to support the environment. Christmas trees take 8 years to grow, helping them convert carbon dioxide to oxygen.
In conclusion, both fake and real trees have pros and cons. You can’t go wrong with either option, though I personally prefer a fake tree.
By Leslie Baker ‘24, Clubs and Classes Editor
