by Dorothy Jo Bourbeau

Created on: April 16, 2008

Cutting down live trees for Christmas is not causing an increase in deforestation, the trees being used as Christmas trees are grown on tree farms for the specific purpose of being cut down. The ones that are cut down are replaced by saplings and the whole process starts over. Cutting down live trees for Christmas is actually helping the economy as it provides income for the family who owns the tree farm.

As a child I loved having a live Christmas tree. Christmas wasn't Christmas without a live tree. Of course as a child I didn't have to clean up the mess caused by a live tree. I also didn't have to worry about the tree drying out and catching fire. I do remember the heartbreak I felt the first Christmas my parents put up a fake tree. I just could not imagine feeling the same joy on Christmas with a fake tree in the living room. I was wrong, when my sister and I got up Christmas morning, one of only two days we got out of bed without complaining, (Easter being the other) we hit the living room with the same joy and excitement as always. Neither of us even noticed the tree was still there.

My daughter cut down a live tree this past Christmas, it lasted about 10 day then there were dead pine needles all over the floor. Pine needles do not vacuum. Since it was still 2 weeks before Christmas the live (now dead) tree was taken out and replaced with the artificial tree that was stored in the garage. My grandchildren were just as happy because it really isn't the tree that makes Christmas.

Reading this you may think I am writing on the wrong side, I'm not. Just because I am in favor of fake trees does not mean that real ones should not be used. Real trees are a very important part of Christmas for some families. Growing and harvesting live trees is a very important part of the countries economy. The people who grow live Christmas trees take great pains to insure that the environment is not harmed and that the different species of trees used as Christmas trees do not become extinct.

Bottom line, people should do what is right for them. If you feel Christmas is only Christmas if there is a live tree then by all means get a live tree. If keeping with the tradition of having a live tree brings your family closer together then no one should even suggest you give that up. Live Christmas trees should remain a part of Christmas as long as there is someone who finds joy in having a live tree.

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