Do students prefer artificial or natural trees?

As the upcoming Christmas season approaches, Minnehaha families have to decide between natural and artificial Christmas 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.