New Englanders Christmas Debate: Real Tree Vs. Fake Tree

New Englanders are all about tradition.  We know this is a trait that goes back to the Puritan days.

We love the tradition of going to Dunks every morning for an everything bagel, and we love the tradition of picking out a tree with the family every year for Christmas.

However this tree tradition brings up an age old debate, in the family, in the office, and amongst friends.

Realsimple.com came up with some awesome reasons for each side, so let's take a minute to chat about the pros and cons of this constant debate.

REAL TREE DEBATE

- It's a family tradition that's hard to break even after the kids are grown.

-It creates family fun.

-The natural scent of a fresh tree is hard to duplicate

-You can support local vendors who carry live cut trees

-A real tree is easy to recycle.

-Initially a real tree costs less than an artificial tree, but...

ARTIFICIAL TREE DEBATE

- Obviously it's reusable.

-There's little to no maintenance.

-A fake tree is less of a fire hazard.

-You can pick the size, the shape, and even the girth of your own tree.

-Tree are often pre-lit, saving money on lights too.

Let's talk about how expensive ALL Christmas trees are these days.  If you are thinking of going the artificial route because the real trees are now mostly over $100, check the fake tree prices.

Artificial trees are often $400 and up, for the real looking ones.  If you buy a good looking one, it does look real, and will save you the headache of the falling needles, but I think you should always defer to the kids.  Afterall, they are the ones who appreciate the magic of Christmas most.