Rethinking the Christmas Tree Debate
December 01, 2010, By Taurus Londoño 0 comments
My house may not have the brightest, most high-powered, newspaper-worthy light display, but so what? At least my electric bill won't rival the power usage of a small country. The holidays are about more than fancy lights and decorations anyway, right? Right!
Whether your house is so bright it can be seen from the moon or you elect nothing more than a simple wreath on the door, there's one absolutely essential decorative item which simply can't be skipped this holiday season - at least not if you want Santa to know where to put the presents. Even if you invest in nothing else to give your household festive charm this year, a good tree is a must.
After all, chances are that your own holiday memories involve a tree of one kind or another. That a single tree can still hold a vivid place in your mental scrapbook speaks volumes about just what kind of impact this holiday staple can have on an impressionable child. Besides, a smartly-decorated tree with a lush, green color can be a classy centerpiece to your home décor, giving your house all the festive atmosphere it needs without necessitating risky rooftop maneuvering to plant lights at high altitude.
You Can't Rely on Santa for This Choice
While the right tree can give your household plenty of Yuletide cheer, it can't be enjoyed until you actually choose it first - a Herculean task to be sure (just ask Charlie Brown). Since the tree you choose can make the difference between hushed holiday embarrassment or tears of child-like joy, it's important to take your time. After all, the very first decision you'll have to make is as fundamental as it gets, namely whether to get a fake or a real tree. Passions about fake and real trees can reach fanatical levels, and if you're already entrenched in one camp or another, you might not have weighed the pros and cons of each option.
Tree Bias
If you've been a real tree person from childhood on, you'll probably turn your nose up at the artificial trees you see at the mall. That wonderful scent of fresh pine, the memories of your dad sawing the tree's trunk, or taking it down from the roof of the car and bringing it into the house for the first time are as much a part of the holidays as the presents were. Maybe you should re-frame those memories to include the hard work of actually picking a tree which isn't diseased, has oddly shaped or mangled branches you didn't notice, or is ready to fall apart the minute you bring it home. Don't forget the attention it'll need to stay alive, the falling needles you'll have to clean up, and the disposal once the holiday season is over.
Time To Go Artificial?
More politely referred to as "artificial," the PVC plastic tree hasn't exactly received much love in recent years. It's tough to defend the plastic tree as anything other than a cheap, hassle-free option, since it isn't exactly "green" despite its color. There are concerns about lead content in PVC trees, as well as environmental issues, so you may want to consider a PVC-free alternative such as a classic aluminum tree, or even a snazzy new fiber optic tree which features glowing LED needles. Fiber optic trees can not only dazzle and impress, they're also priced in the same range as many PVC trees, and can be re-used year after year.
Real Trees Might Pay Off in the End
If "going green" is a concern, you can't get any greener than a real tree. Despite what you might think about chopping down trees, 2-3 seedlings are planted for every tree harvested, according to the University of Illinois. In addition, 93 percent of real trees end up being recycled and used in everything from soil erosion barriers to gardens. Besides, let's face it; no artificial tree can come close to matching that genuine pine smell, and there's nothing wrong with imperfect branches. In fact, the tree's imperfections are what give each tree a unique character that differentiate it from trees from preceding years. Sure, a real tree can be a hassle, but that effort might just be its own reward. Involving your children in the process, from bringing the tree home to taking care of it through the holidays, can teach them that the best things in life require worthwhile hard work.
