In general, Christmas is a time to bask in the love of family, friends and good will towards humanity—and not dwell on the guilt of murdering millions of defenseless young pine trees.
According to the National Christmas Tree Association, between 25 and 30 million Christmas trees are cut down in the prime of life every year as decoration. This tradition goes back many years to a time before these trees were raised for the sole purpose holiday slaughter. Sort of like Thanksgiving Day turkeys.
On the other hand, the Christmas tree industry raises a lot of trees—some 350 million—that would not have existed naturally. The Association reports that this season, 77 percent of Americans will opt for an artificial tree. Of course, at our house, we are having none of it. Only a real tree will do. (My wife’s middle name is literally “Noel.”) Unfortunately, the longer we wait, the harder it is to find a decent-looking tree. In the past, we have found the best deals at Tractor Supply, probably because it’s not the first place most people would think to look. This year, the pickings were pretty slim and we were lucky to find a fairly bushy tree that quickly narrowed to a long, bare spire at the top, making it look, after it was decorated, like one of those onion dome cathedrals in Moscow’s Red Square.
There are obvious advantages to having an artificial tree. You don’t have to buy a new one every year. Or dispose of it. You can even keep the decorations on it year-round if you’re careful. A six-foot classic artificial blue spruce tree from Balsam Hill is currently going for $449, on sale from $799. If that seems like a lot, WalMart has one for $39.99—if you don’t mind that it looks like a five-foot-tall green toilet brush.
This year, a live Christmas tree will set you back between $80 and $100—up from an average of $75 last year. If you can wait until after Christmas, they are available for free, complete with tinsel, left along most any curb in town.
According to Martha Stewart, the best way to keep your live tree looking and smelling fresh is to keep it watered. First, trim an inch off the trunk and never let it dry out or it will stop drinking and drop needles you will be finding in the carpet with your bare feet until spring. Iowa State University Extension confirms that water is the best Christmas tree additive and cautions that, despite the rumors, molasses, sugar, soft drinks or aspirin will not help. Adding a couple of tablespoons of bleach to the water makes your tree last longer—if you can believe Clorox.
A live Christmas tree is more than a hanger for tinsel, colored lights and fragile glass balls, irresistible to cats and little boys with toy guns that shoot rubber bullets. A Christmas tree is a living scrapbook for heirlooms, photos and trinkets with special meaning, a monument, however temporary, to your family. Oh, and Martha Steward says be sure to unplug your Christmas lights when you’re not home so they don’t catch your house on fire.