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Fake vs fir: What’s your holiday tree made of?
By Melissa Martin, Ph.D.
Real or artificial Christmas tree decorated with lights, ornaments, and
tinsel? Which is the right choice? It depends on switch side of the
aluminum or wooden fence you are on. Ho-ho-holarious. What’s your
ho-ho-holiday tree made of?
The overzealous environmentalists that sneak in, lay down, and block
the path as you search at a tree farm shout, “Use artificial, you tree
assassins!”
The manufacturers of fake trees and the retail store owners and
managers shout, “Yes. Buy artificial trees and save the environment!”
No falling pine needles. No worry of overwatering or underwatering. No
hiding squirrels in the branches. No messy clean up.
The owners of Christmas tree farms shout, “American grown. Buy real and
help small farms! Fill your home with natural fragrance.”
Bossy Lucy demands a fake tree. But, Charlie Brown selects the
pathetic, but real tree over the commercialized alumni tree in the
annual TV special.
“There’s no experience quite like cutting your own live Christmas tree out of your neighbor’s yard.”—Dan Florence
More than 95 million U.S. households celebrated the 2018 holiday season
by displaying a Christmas tree, according to the eighth annual
Christmas tree survey from the American Christmas Tree Association
conducted by Nielsen. Shazam! Eighty-two percent of the Christmas trees
displayed were artificial and eighteen percent were real trees.
The rest of the story…
A 2018 article in the New York Times by Karen Zraick reported on common
misconceptions. It seems like cutting a real Fir on a farm has
advantages. “A five- or six-foot tree takes just under a decade to
grow, and once it’s cut down, the farmer will generally plant at least
one in its place. The trees provide many benefits to the environment as
they grow, cleaning the air and providing watersheds and habitats for
wildlife. They grow best on rolling hills that are often unsuitable for
other crops and, of course, they are biodegradable.”
Most of the artificial trees on the market are made of PVC and steel in
China and shipped to the United States. So, how does that help the
American economy? It probably funds the Chinese military.
Real Trees in White House
Every year a contest sponsored by the Association of American Christmas
tree growers ensues for a Christmas tree for the iconic Blue Room. And
55 additional trees are bought to decorate the White House complex.
Should the White House buy artificial trees (from China) to help save
the environment? And reuse the same faux trees year after year after
year? Or buy from tree farms in USA?
I perused the internet for artificial tree manufacturers in the USA.
The websites I found did not come out and declare their trees were made
in America. So, I am confused. Are parts designed in USA, made in
China, shipped to USA, and fused with parts made in USA?
The debate about the environmental impact of artificial trees and the impact of cutting real trees is ongoing.
I’m foregoing a Christmas tree this year and instead I’m displaying an
Inflatable Buddy the Elf (six feet tall) in my living room. That solves
the holiday tree debate for me. Fa la la la la la la la la.
Melissa Martin, Ph.D., is an author, columnist, educator, and
therapist. She lives in Southern Ohio. Contact her at
melissamcolumnist@gmail.com.
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