Every year, worldwide, people decorate their homes with Christmas trees to celebrate the holiday season. Celebrating religiously or not, coming together to set up and decorate a tree is a beautiful tradition that many families participate in. There has been a long-time debate about which is better, a real Christmas tree or a fake one.
Picking a Christmas tree together every year is a tradition many families hold and pass on to future generations. Real trees are beautiful, and their rich fragrance and authentic look are unbeatable. Buying a real tree also supports our economy and local businesses in our community. For example, my family buys a Christmas tree from the same family-owned business every year. There are also many varieties of real trees you can choose from which aren’t fully represented with fake trees. Every family has their own preference, like skinny trees, fat trees, tall trees, short trees, different needle types, and different colors. These personal details are just another aspect of what makes tree decorating so magical.
Despite the reasons above, I do understand the argument for why a real tree may not be worth it. Christmas trees can be expensive and a lot of work to buy, set up, and decorate. Some say that it’s also hard to keep a tree alive until Christmas. For many families, doing this every year could take some of the enjoyment out of this fun tradition. There are benefits to fake trees as well. For example, they are more cost-efficient, as you reuse the same tree every year. Fake trees are also much easier to set up and take down because of the more lightweight material they are made of. You also don’t have to worry about cleaning up any needles that fall from the tree or watering the tree. All in all, it is just less maintenance.
Regardless of some of these inconveniences, I truly love having a real Christmas tree. I look forward to picking one out with my family, adding lights, decorating it with sentimental ornaments, and enjoying it for as long as we can. No candle beats the cozy Christmas lights and the authentic pine smell of a real Christmas tree.
