The holiday season is approaching in Potosi, Wisconsin. Families around our town are getting ready to pull their seasonal decor from storage, deck the halls, and hang the stockings. However, one Christmas debate surrounds the most important embellishment: the tree.
For over 140 years families have set up a Christmas tree in their homes to represent the birth and resurrection of Christ. Fir trees have historically been used by Christians to symbolize the everlasting life of God. The debate surrounding tree type started in the 1880’s. To avoid deforestation from Christmas trees, Germans wrapped goose feathers around a pole and dyed them green to symbolize a tree. From here, the United States picked up the trend. In 1930, companies in the US started to manufacture fake trees made of brush bristles. When this started gaining momentum, US companies created aluminum and plastic trees.
For some families, owning one of the 25 to 30 million real trees sold each year is a family tradition. Grabbing a saw and braving the cold together is an annual activity that families enjoy. Potosi High School senior Isaiah Groom, a student who has had both kinds of trees, prefers real trees over artificial ones. “I think the real trees look cooler, and it’s more fun going out and getting a real tree.” These are just some of the benefits of real trees. Senior Oliver Post describes the seasonal smell of the real tree in his family’s home.
Along with the smell of the evergreen in your living room, real trees have a positive impact on forests as well. Oliver and Isaiah are two students who participated in the “real versus fake Christmas tree?” survey sent to all Potosi High School students. 55 students responded and 18.2% said their families get a real tree during the holiday season. Because families cut trees down, extra trees are planted to avoid deforestation. Planting Christmas trees on Christmas tree farms impacts the environment in a healthy way.
Despite these in-home and environmental benefits, there is also a list of drawbacks to natural trees. Real trees bring needles and allergies to your home with them. Families also have to keep up with watering. Pesticides used at farms may also not be organic. The costs of a real tree are also repetitive. The American Christmas Tree Association reports the average cost of a real tree is $80 a year.
Other families opt for the sparkly alternative. According to the American Christmas Tree Association, 77% of American families lean towards an artificial tree during the holiday season. In the Potosi High School survey, 81.8% of 55 responders also said they prefer fake Christmas trees. “The benefit of these trees is that they are a one-time purchase,” senior Madi Weber describes.
Assembly also comes easier for families with artificial trees, due to the built-in lights that are often included. The cost of these trees averages $104 according to the American Christmas Tree Association. Artificial trees are always hypoallergenic and are often less prickly when decorating. These soft needles are also less likely to shed. While these benefits may make decorating less difficult, these trees affect the environment in a negative way. According to The Nature Conservancy, 90% of artificial trees are shipped from China, increasing carbon emissions and resources. This is not the only reason artificial trees are not eco-friendly. The plastics used in the branches are often non-recyclable, causing the trees to end up in local landfills.
Now that Christmas is just around the corner, 81.8% of Potosi families are piecing together artificial trees, while 18.2% are bundling up and cutting down real trees. Both options include pros and cons, but equally serve their purpose in bringing spirit to homes during the winter months. No matter the kind of tree your family picks for decoration, Potosi High School wishes you a safe and happy holiday season!