The Christmas tree plays a big part in Christmas magic, but the ongoing debate is whether a real or an artificial tree is more magical. While real Christmas trees are more convenient, the family tradition of choosing a real Christmas tree on a farm is a staple in many families.
Artificial trees can make it easier to find the perfect tree for your own house because of the different colors and sizes you can choose from. According to NBC Bay Area, there is no mess to clean up, unlike real Christmas trees with their needles. With artificial trees, you can save money by not having to buy a new tree every year. Instead, you just pull your tree out of your storage room and put it up for the holiday season.
“I can box my tree up and keep it from year to year,” Bergman said.
Real trees are considered recyclable and renewable resources. According to The National Christmas Tree Association, three new trees are planted for every harvested tree. However, you can’t reuse the real trees, but they can be better for family traditions. Going to the Christmas tree farm with your family and finding the perfect tree for your home could add to the family tradition.
“[When picking a real tree] we find the biggest tree and me and my brother get to cut the tree down, so it’s like a big family thing,” Brubacher said.
Librarian Cathlina Bergman has a fake gold/silver tree. She has been using this tree since COVID-19 when she thought she needed a change from the regular green Christmas tree. The tree is themed around a stuffed Llama she has that is pink and green. She then put all kinds of different ornaments on it from all over the United States.
“I used only ornaments that I bought as souvenirs from traveling,” Bergman said.
Around Thanksgiving break, Bergman puts her tree up and takes it down in mid-January. She decides to take it down on a day when it is nice and warm outside, however, one time she didn’t take it down for the entire month of January.
“Sometimes I cheat and [put the tree up] like a week early,” Bergman said.
Real or artificial Christmas trees matter for the aesthetic of the house, but what really captures the eye is the decorations that are put on the tree and how they complement each other. Sophomore Maisie Brubacher has a real Christmas tree in her house. She tops the tree off with a light-up star and wraps tinsel around it. The tree her family gets every year is around 20 feet tall because she has a really tall house.
“We just take a ladder and shove as many ornaments as we can on it,” Brubacher said.
According to a survey sent to Newton High School students, 27 out of 130 people who responded have real Christmas trees. That means almost 80% of the people who filled out the survey have artificial trees.
“[With a fake tree] I don’t have to try to keep it from spreading needles everywhere and I don’t have to go buy a new one every year. I can box it up and keep it from year to year,” Bergman said.
