A Personalized Santa Claus Letter About Christmas Trees—Real Or Artificial?

Let’s face it, there has been a lot of debate over the years about which is better, an artificial Christmas tree or a real one. Many of the discussions focus on what is better for the environment. Believe it or not, because this was a topic in my grandson’s classroom last year, he actually included that in his letter to Santa. That’s right, he wrote to Santa Claus asking him which tree was better. It seems that there are pros and cons for both types of trees – but to be honest – Santa Claus did not help much – he just suggested that my grandson choose a nice tree and decorate it in his own way. Very diplomatic of Santa! Lol

But the reality is that we all use Christmas trees and we probably should give some thought to which is really better for the environment. And of course, we do have to consider the actual dollar cost to us – however, when we consider that we need to think long term as well as the single season.

For city-dwellers who live in a high rise away from all the Christmas tree farms, an artificial tree might be the only choice available for them. Aside from its availability, some pros about having an artificial Christmas tree also includes the fact that it is practical, since you won’t need to keep buying one every year. You can, instead, just use last year’s well-packed tree and not need to spend a single cent on buying yet another tree each and every year. Studies show that most artificial trees last 3 – 7 or more years.

An artificial tree also does not shed its needles, adding to your household chores. Aside from this, an artificial tree does not have the bacteria or fungus that live trees sometimes have. You can also get an artificial tree that lights up on its own without having to buy any additional Christmas lights, an added expense. Artificial trees look perfect each and every time, with no maintenance, no needles to clean up and built-in lights. They help you save money because you only need to spend for one tree which will last for years depending on the way you take care of it.

On the other hand, real Christmas trees do have that wonderful fir or pine smell which is what Christmas is all about, for some. Imagine having an allspice fruit cake baking in the oven with a fabulous smell mixing with the smell of pine, as you tell your children Christmas Stories such as “The Night Before Christmas” beside the fireplace. A real tree is also a fun thing to purchase with the whole family. You can go to a Christmas tree farm, let the kids help you in selecting which tree is perfect, load it on your van or have them deliver it and enjoy setting it up in the living room together with the whole family.

You can also trim the real tree with traditional trimmings like strung popcorn or Christmas angels, as well as cut out snowflakes the kids can help you make. A real tree is sometimes cheaper than an artificial tree, since it does not have the artificial lights and other technology that artificial trees come with.
Furthermore, you can get a real tree at a discounted price the week right before Christmas. The smell of pine will fill your memories of Christmas with the scent of Christmas pine, which your kids will remember forever.

But perhaps more importantly is the fact that real trees can be more environmentally friendly because they can be recycled for bird and other animal refuge, beach fencing, used in lakes for fish habitats, and mulched for use as mulching, plus other uses. Additionally, Christmas tree farms add beauty to the countryside, the trees themselves are grown in soil that cannot be used for other crops, the trees provide habitats for birds and other wildlife, and the live trees give off oxygen.

The choice is up to you. If you decide to get an artificial tree but miss the smell of pine, then you can go ahead and purchase a pine scented air freshener to spray on your artificial tree. On the other hand, if you want your children to grow up with a real Christmas tree in the living room, that is just as understandable.