Christmas opinions: Artificial vs. real Christmas trees
As the upcoming Christmas season approaches, Minnehaha families have to decide between real trees and artificial trees. Both kinds of trees have advantages. Artificial trees are easier to put up, and many students prefer the needles to stay on the tree.
“I prefer fake trees. They are less messy and better looking,” said first-year Cam Adair.
A poll of 35 Minnehaha Academy students revealed that 60% of families at Minnehaha used real Christmas trees. Real trees have a distinct smell; artificial trees can have a fake, unappealing look.
“[I prefer] real because they smell really good and are authentic,” said first-year Alex Carlson.
The Christmas poll showed that 37.1% of Minnehaha families used artificial trees. Artificial trees require less maintenance and don’t require families to buy a new tree every year.
“Fake is more convenient, you can spend the real tree money on other celebratory things,” said first-year Henry Beck. “Fake is also less of a mess.”
However, a poll of the same people showed that 77.1% of students preferred real trees.
“I prefer real because it smells nice and looks better in my opinion,” said Matia Ruiters.
While buying an artificial tree might save trees, they do come with serious disadvantages. According to the National Christmas Tree Association, most artificial trees are not biodegradable, and some contain metal toxins like lead. Real trees are biodegradable, but the cost can add up when buying one each year.
Christmas isn’t the only thing this winter season is bringing. In a poll of 35 MA students, 97.1% of them said that they liked snow.
“I love snow. It makes Minnesota feel like a winter wonderland,” said sophomore Cole Novak.
This year, weather forecast predictions are foreshadowing a snowier winter than last year. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) predicts that there will be 40% more precipitation compared to last year’s winter. This will give students the chance to enjoy one of the staples of Minnesota.
“I love snow because it is just so pretty,” said first-year Rose Morse.
Many students feel that snow is a part of their Minnesota culture. Some years bring heavier snow, but last year’s snowfall was well below average. This year’s snowfall is expected to be above average due to a weather pattern called La Niña that comes through South America every 3-5 years. The storms usually cause a colder winter in the Northern U.S. and a warmer, drier winter in the Southern U.S.
“I think [snow] is classic Minnesota,” said Beck.
Students enjoy a variety of snow-related activities. Favorites include sledding, Alpine skiing, and ice skating.
“I love [snow] because I can ski both alpine and Nordic, and I can build snow forts and have snowball fights,” said Carlson.