Nearly everyone has an opinion about whether you should have a real Christmas tree or an artificial one. In some cases, these opinions border on the militant, suggesting that, by picking one or the other, you are either destroying the environment or dishonoring the spirit of Christmas. Of course, the type of Christmas tree that you should pick is the one that works best for you and for your family.

There are some pros to having an artificial Christmas tree. Artificial trees have become increasingly popular in the last couple of decades as manufacturers have been able to make them look more and more like a real tree, and have made them easier than ever to assemble. One of the biggest pros to having an artificial Christmas tree is this convenience. Artificial trees can be dismantled and stored from year to year, without the hassle of having to go out and buy a real tree every year. In addition, artificial Christmas trees have no needles to clean up. If you have pets, they are much less likely to use an artificial tree as a litter box, as well.

There are some cons to having an artificial Christmas tree also. There is an environmental concern, as artificial trees are made from nonrenewable petroleum. If one catches fire, it releases toxic fumes. Artificial trees cannot be recycled, they go to a landfill where they will last for many many years. In addition, while artificial trees are looking more real, they still don’t smell like a real tree.

Real Christmas trees, on the other hand, do smell like real trees. Among their other pros is the fact that buying a real Christmas tree can become a family Christmas tradition, in which the entire family goes tree shopping. Real trees are, of course, renewable resources, and most Christmas tree farms operate on the principle of regrowing their entire farm in a 10 year time period.

There are cons to having a real Christmas tree as well. They are more of a fire hazard than artificial trees, which typically have some flame-retardant qualities. Real trees require more maintenance, such as regular watering and cleaning up of the needles. Real trees can also trigger allergies in some cases.

Whichever type of tree you choose, it is certain to be a blessing to your family during the Christmas season.

Posted in Christmas, Holidays

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