12/8/25
By Nahia Morgan, Staff Writer
ROCKLAND- With the holiday season fast approaching, the debate on which type of Christmas tree is better, a fake one or a real one, comes up yet again.
Some may argue that chopping down real Christmas trees is bad for the environment, but real Christmas trees contain an average carbon footprint of 3.5 Kilograms if disposed of through methods such as wood chipping or burning.
Once they are composted, real Christmas trees can be repurposed as lumber, mulch, or fertilizers. Some have even been purposely put at the bottom of different bodies of water to establish new natural underwater habitats.
“It’s very dependent because with real trees, even though you’re cutting them down, they still get recycled. I think they’re getting a use out of cutting down the trees rather than the fake trees,” freshman Victoria Pumphrey said.
While Christmas trees are growing, they provide a natural habitat for different bird and mammal species, and recycle carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through the process of photosynthesis.
Allergies
About 1.5% to 10% of people have an allergy to pine trees. This allergy can be caused by mold, dust and pollen on the trees. Most people with a pine allergy are also allergic to grass pollen.
“My pine allergy is pretty severe. My throat doesn’t close up or anything but I experience hives on my face and my eyes become red and itchy. I also get really itchy and sniffly and I feel really hot,” junior Christine Oteri said.
With an allergy to pine, people with this condition cannot buy a real Christmas tree. A fake one is safer and does not set off their allergies.
“The worst reaction I had was when I was a baby. I don't remember it but I have been told the story many times. I was put in front of the Christmas tree for a picture and I turned blue. My grandfather picked me up and rushed me to the hospital. The doctors there told my family it was an allergic reaction,” assistant principal Ms. Paulding said.
Pine allergies can be a con to buying real Christmas trees.
Costs
A real Christmas tree’s price is anywhere from $65 to $400 depending on the size. A fake tree’s price is anywhere from $105 to $400. So buying a real Christmas tree every year can be pricey.
“Sometimes my parents do suggest just using the fake tree that we still have from before, but I think that we should always get a real tree because it’s only one purchase a year,” Pumphrey said.
Sometimes though, it is easier to buy an artificial tree and use it until it is unusable.
Family Tradition and Fun
A trip to a Christmas tree farm late November to pick up a tree can feel like magic. Especially when families get hot cocoa afterwards and make it a day of family fun.
“We try to go to a new Christmas tree farm every year to try to get different experiences. I just love Christmas tree shopping. I think it’s a really fun tradition,” Pumphrey said.
Kids can help chop down the tree and families can use going to the farm as a way to unwind and release stress. Some farms have hay rides and visits with Santa. Many farms also offer festive treats like hot cocoa,donuts and holiday shops with wreaths and ornaments.
But having a fake tree means that you don’t have to wait to tag the tree at the farm and then have to pick it up.
“It means you can decorate a lot earlier because you don’t have to wait for tree season. Also your tree doesn’t die so it lasts longer,” Oteri said.
Fake trees can be put up and pulled apart in minutes, while with real trees, there is a hassle to putting it in water and on a stand.
“I think the fake trees have come a long way. The tree we had when I was little had a green post in the middle and branches that we would put in. It looked very fake. Now you can even get the fake trees that are pre-lit and set it up in minutes,” Ms. Paulding said.
Holiday Atmosphere
Even the environment the real Christmas tree brings, is a reason to get one over an artificial tree.
“I feel like there’s just something special about a real Christmas tree,” Pumphrey said,“I just like how when it looks a little janky, it reminds you that it is real.”
But some also may argue that a real tree does not bring a special holiday atmosphere.
“I think a lot of people overlook the mess that real trees bring. They shed a lot. It’s also easier to break down a real tree than drag out a fake tree,” Oteri said.
Many people may not enjoy the scent of pine and an artificial tree, sometimes white or even pink colored looks better to them.
But at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what tree is better, real or fake, it should work for each individual’s family and specific need.