One of my favorite holiday traditions is going to the Christmas tree “farm” (which is really just a pop-up Christmas tree retailer on the side of Shallowford Rd.) and picking out the perfect tree.

That is one of the reasons that make real Christmas trees superior to fake ones: switching up the style of the tree every year.

Do I want a fluffy, bright green tree or a firm, dark green one this year?

There is no such option to choose a different style of tree each year if you are saddled with a pricey artificial tree. A reasonably sized, pre-lit, reliable tree from Target costs no less than $150 (when not on sale).

For my personal preference, that is just too expensive for what it is. And not to mention the fact that fake Christmas trees lack the sweet smell of balsam fir; basically a 24/7, flameless Yankee Candle. Sure, there is the option to purchase those little sticks that smell like Christmas trees, but have you actually smelled them? It is like every Christmas candle ever made got a teaspoon scooped out and all melted together. It is way too overpowering and almost invokes a choking sensation.

This may just be the storage habits of my family, but there is no possible way a Christmas tree would fit in our antique-filled attic. The process of taking apart the Christmas tree and hauling it up into an attic while also trying to not slice your hand open on the metal inserts is risky business.

Yes, some real Christmas trees can be pricey, but it is well worth the cost (at least to me). Part of the fun of Christmas is picking out the tree, and when you buy an artificial tree, you are robbed of that fun.

I am sorry to get political and science-y, but real trees are also a lot more eco-friendly. When the Christmas season is over, you simply put your tree out for curb-side pickup, where it gets picked up and distributed to serve another purpose after its life in your home. According to the website Christmas Designer, Christmas trees can become mulch, be put in the bottom of lakes in order to provide better habitats for wild fish, be distributed to zoos to feed larger animals like giraffes and zebras and are used on beaches in order to prevent wind erosion.

Fake trees, on the other hand, just sit around in landfills and will take approximately 500 years to decompose according to the Christmas Tree Farmers Association of New York, therefore making real trees better in the long run in terms of our planet’s health.

All in all, real trees are unequaled when compared to fake trees. Real trees allow you to switch up your Christmas vibe each year without hoarding different styles of artificial trees, are easier to dispose of and are better for the environment. If you already have an artificial tree, do not throw it out. Instead, try to find a new home for it and make the move to real trees; our planet and Santa will thank you.

If you disagree, feel free to check out Kamrin Moore’s take on why artificial trees are superior:

Fake it for Old Nick’s sake