When Christmas time rolls around, there is the decision of whether to get real or artificial Christmas trees. Some people stand by their preference year after year while others find it difficult to make up their mind. Before you can make the best decision you really have to learn about both real and artificial Christmas trees and the advantages and disadvantages to both, so that you will be informed and knowledgeable and be able to make the best possible decision.
Advantages of Artificial Christmas Trees
One of the major advantages is that fake Christmas trees do not lose their needles, and so you will not have to worry about cleaning up a big mess once Christmastime is over. As well you can avoid any sticky encounters with sap, and there is no need to water them so you will have less hassle to add on to your already full list.
Artificial Christmas trees are also much safer overall, as real trees become a fire hazard as they dry out, and most fake Christmas trees are even created from flame resistant materials for added safety.
You also get a lot more variety with the fake Christmas trees, and regardless of what particular tree is your favorite, you will be able to find it in artificial form. You can even buy artificial trees that come with lights or music built right into them, something that you cannot get with real trees.
Disadvantages of Artificial Christmas Trees
There are certain disadvantages to the fake Christmas trees, however, such as the fact that they are more expensive. Although you do get to reuse them year after year, and so technically they are an investment, up front the price that you are going to have to pay is going to be much steeper than for a real Christmas tree.
Real trees fit in with the trend for domestic naturalism, and they remind us that mankind is still trailing nature at the end of the third quarter. The evergreen tree in particular has long been a pagan symbol of rebirth related specifically to the winter solstice, while some Christians say that it represents the tree of the cross.
As well there is the fact that Christmas simply feels more like Christmas with a real tree. Real trees are what were used in the beginning, and some families are determined to keep this tradition alive by getting a real tree every Christmas.