As families weigh their options about the type of tree they’ll end up buying, understanding the pros and cons of each tree can help make the decision a little easier and have a more meaningful and lasting effect this Christmas season.
It’s Christmas time and teachers and students at Utica high school have to choose their trees for the holiday by either going to the tree farm or the store, and thus begins the debate on whether to get a real tree or fake tree.
“I prefer a fake tree because it’s less maintenance and it already has prebuilt lights and because it doesn’t have pine needles,” sophomore Paige Brinkey said. “The best part of the fake tree is that it’s easier to put decorations on.”
Christmas trees are usually decorated with strands of colorful lights, ornaments, and the Star on the top of the tree.
“I would say a fake tree because it’s less maintenance, but If I had to have a real tree it would go outside because it’s easier to maintain outside as that’s what my parents used to do when I was a kid,” teacher Jeffrey Lapratt said. “The best part of a fake tree is that it’s easy up and easy down, and there’s little to no maintenance needed, my wife decorates the trees as she’s an expert at that, there’s three trees in total, one for the kids, one in the basement that has sports decorations on it, and of course the main tree.”
Fake trees come in a variety of colors and are made out of plastic needles and metal faux trunks, whilst real trees are pine trees which is one of the only trees that don’t lose their leaves in the fall.
“I like fake trees more than real trees as I could reuse it and I wouldn’t have to deal with cleaning pine needles, giving the tree water, and having to get rid of it which is things you have to do with a real tree,” junior Natalie Spear said. “I think the best part of a fake tree is the variety of colors they come in, also decorating the tree with my family with ornaments me and my brother and friends made in our childhood is my favorite part of the tree.”
The History of Christmas trees started in Germany with Christians bringing the trees in their homes to celebrate the birth and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the decorations also represent the giving spirit and exchange of presents, embracing nature and its role in the changing seasons, and embracing the traditions of the holiday.
“I prefer a fake tree, probably because it’s the only type of tree my family has ever used, I do like the idea of a fake tree, but I think I’d stay with the fake tree,” junior Issac Hellebuyck said. “The best part of a fake tree is stuff like bugs and pine needles that you don’t have to worry about, me and family decorate our tree with lights and novelty ornaments scattered all throughout the tree.”
The Majority of students and teachers at Utica High School prefer fake trees instead of real trees for the Christmas season as its easier to setup and easier to get, and they love getting to spend their time decorating the tree with loved ones.
