Real trees: the real deal
Hawene Alemayehu, Staff Writer
Setting up holiday lights and hanging stockings is among many holiday decorating traditions, yet nothing beats the traditional household holiday decoration: the evergreen tree. A real Christmas tree captures the essence of the holiday season, making them superior to the fake ones.
Fake or real, a tree is seen in almost every household. The trees bring the holiday feeling to any home, beginning with the selection of a Christmas tree. Choosing a tree is a personal activity and tradition taken on by many families. Heading down to the Christmas tree lot and finding the perfect one marks the beginning of holiday activities and the start of many fun winter seasons. Purchasing a fake Christmas tree doesn’t have this factor because it becomes similar to purchasing any other product, taking all the fun out of it.
Another plus is that all Christmas trees have an amazing scent, easily brightening one’s day with the sweet smell of fresh pine and cinnamon. The fragrance is so magical and popular that companies replicated it into cologones, candles and even air fresheners. Still, nothing beats the smell of an authentic tree. This differs from fake trees which carry no scents, and though they are less maintenance than real ones, choosing a real Christmas tree guarantees a fine smelling holiday.
Along with that, real Christmas trees are biodegradable and recyclable. An investment in one of these helps the environment more than it hurts. The Nature Conservancy discovered that most of the trees that are cut down are automatically replanted, therefore they are consumed and replanted at the same rate. Instead of being thrown out at the end of December, trees can be repurposed for more. The Conservancy site mentions that many trees go on to be cut into firewood or wood chips, and others are used for furniture and other projects. On the other hand, the production of just one artificial Christmas tree uses heavy fossil fuels and requires heavy plastic and steel to be made.
Real trees come at lower price than the average artificial tree, so not only is it helping the environment, it is simply a cheaper investment. Christmas trees are a great opportunity to support small businesses. For Christmas tree businesses, this is their peak season, and much of their income is reliant on the purchases of Christmas trees.
All in all, natural Christmas trees bring an essence and aesthetic that artificial trees simply cannot compete with. Whether it is the pine aroma or the beautiful green leaves that reach across the living room, traditional Christmas trees are truly equipped to create the real holiday atmosphere in any home.
