It is finally December, which means that many families are going out to find the perfect Christmas tree for their home. Christmas trees are a perfect way to bring more holiday cheer to an often busy and stressful month. Additionally, decorating the tree with lights and ornaments is a fun activity to do with your family or friends. Once a Christmas tree has been set up in your home, it will truly feel like the holiday season. But, the big question is, are real or fake trees better?
Real Christmas trees and fake Christmas trees often look almost identical to each other, but are different in many ways. Each option has its pros and cons, but with both being great options, it can still be hard to decide which type to get.
If you want the comforting aroma of a Christmas tree, you are much better off getting a real tree. All real trees, no matter what shape or size, have a very strong scent that you will be able to smell all around your house. These trees can also be much taller than fake trees, which is ideal for houses with higher ceilings. Another pro of real trees is that you can make an afternoon or evening out of going to get your tree. There are various places to get Christmas trees in Santa Barbara such as Lane Farms, located on Walnut Lane not far away from SM and Anthony’s Christmas trees, located at Earl Warren Showgrounds.
“I like real Christmas trees better because nothing compares to the smell of pine, it makes my house feel festive!”said San Marcos senior Olivia Barrios, adding, “My family always gets a real tree because it’s sort of like our tradition to go out and pick one and bring it home to decorate it.”
Although real Christmas trees are beautiful assets to any home during the holiday season, once the tree is taken down, a lot of time must be spent cleaning up the dropped needles. The pine needles of real Christmas trees fall off easily and litter the floor, and can be dangerous if you have pets that try to eat them.
Real trees also require water, and it is easy to forget to water the tree every day if you’re away a lot. To add to this, real trees can be expensive. They are gorgeous and worth the money for most, but are definitely not cheap unless you get a small one. Fake Christmas trees are much more reasonably priced. They are available at local stores such as Home Depot, Michaels, and Target, and can even be purchased online and delivered to your front door. Fake trees will not shed pine needles all over your floor and they are more convenient if you don’t have time to go pick out a real one.
With all of this in mind, fake trees may be much easier to take care of, but they do not hold the same magic as real trees do. If you decide to get a fake tree this December, it may not feel as special as having a real tree.
“The tree I like best is a real tree, but my family gets a fake tree,” said San Marcos senior Luna Ramirex Solano.
In addition, according to a 2023 survey from Statista, of the 70% of Americans putting up a tree in their homes, around 46% planned to put up an artificial tree while 24% opted for a real tree.
It is clear that real Christmas trees are the more popular choice with students at our school, and this proves they are superior to fake trees. Fake trees may be more affordable, and real trees may be a hassle for some families, but real trees are so much more special to have in your home for the month of December, even if they are a little bit more expensive. Nevertheless, the type of tree you get is completely up to you and your family, because either way, everyone’s holiday traditions are different and whatever way you celebrate is the best for you.
