This Is the Year for New Traditions :: 5 Reasons to Purchase a REAL Christmas Tree This Year!

As a woman who was raised in a pine forest, in a place literally named “Pinewood,” I have a deep, deep love for our annual REAL Christmas tree and consider myself somewhat of a tree aficionado. Our real Christmas tree is the centerpiece of our holiday home, and I am counting down the days until it once again adorns our tiny living room. 

As we all look toward a holiday season that is sure to look much different than in years past, you might find yourself feeling anxious and sad. It’s likely that holiday parties will be canceled or limited and replaced with virtual greetings, travel plans will be put on hold, and we’ll miss out on a lot of the traditional things that make the holidays feel special for our families. With all these things weighing heavy on our hearts, let’s look for the things that can remain the same: 2020 won’t take our real Christmas trees from us.

I encourage you to embrace the fact that anything goes in 2020 and use this year as the year that you create new traditions, like purchasing a real Christmas tree for the first time!

Here’s why:

1. The memories :: Tradition roots your family during the most difficult of circumstances. In our lives, when things feel absolutely upside-down but we are still able to lean into the small familiar traditions that have anchored our family during more “normal” times, we are brought great comfort. I have vivid memories of bundling up and trekking through a wooded area looking for the most perfect tree with my parents and sister. I remember my dad lifting our wispy white pine high onto his shoulder and plopping it carefully into the back of his pickup truck, and I remember the waft of delicious pine scent carrying through our family home as we adorned our find.

The process of picking out our tree was sacred to us, and I have carried that tradition to my own little family. I hope when my kids are grown they have similar vivid memories: the family time, the chilly air, the smell. By purchasing a real tree this year, you are cementing those memories for your family, too! In a recent survey of more than 2,000 adults in the U.S., a majority of respondents (72%) said it’s important to purposefully create good memories. So, let’s get to it!

2. Opportunity to support local businesses :: In our area, many places where you’ll purchase a real Christmas tree are SMALL BUSINESSES. Now more than ever, it’s important to rally our support for these local treasures. Purchasing a real Christmas tree is one easy way to support farmers, local businesses, and the seasonal workers who may have felt a great impact due to the current pandemic.

3. Purchasing a real tree is an experience :: The act of going to find and purchase a real tree is a family event that 2020 won’t steal from you! While many of our holiday traditions will be put on hold, this one doesn’t have to be. Make a day of it: Grab hot chocolate and coffee on your way to pick out your tree. Take photos of your process. Document the joy it brings!

4. Real Christmas trees are environmentally friendly :: Did you know that for every real Christmas tree farmers harvest, they plant at least one new tree? Additionally, research shows that artificial trees have three times the impact on climate change and resource depletion. While many things are out of our control this year, we can all lean in to being a bit more environmentally friendly!

5. Carry the holiday cheer right into the NEW YEAR! Decorate an after-Christmas tree! :: When I was growing up, my dad would carry our real Christmas tree out into the front yard and we’d create an “After Tree” by decorating it with treats for the birds and animals. It would stand there on display right outside of our living room window, and we’d marvel over the creatures who would visit our after-Christmas tree. I started this tradition with my OWN family a few years ago. It’s a fun way to extend the joy of the holiday season and the life of your real tree.

Memories. The smell of a real tree. Supporting local businesses. An experience that 2020 can’t steal. AND environmentally friendly! Have I convinced you yet?

**TRUE Global Intelligence fielded a survey of 2,019 Americans ages 21 to 49 years from July 6 to July 10, 2020. All respondents to the survey celebrate or observe Christmas and either decide or share in the decision of whether and what kind of Christmas tree to put up in their home each year or influence their home’s decisionmaker. The survey has a margin of error of ±2.2% and higher for subgroups 

*** Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of an Artificial Christmas Tree and a Natural Christmas Tree; Ellipsos, Montreal, Quebec, 2009; pages 6 & 8.

Start here: Visit ItsChristmasKeepItReal.com to learn more. 

• Enter your zip code to find a real Christmas tree near you
  • The interactive map and search filters can help you find a real Christmas tree no matter where you live and prefer to shop:
    • Choose-and-cut farms
    • Seasonal lots
    • Garden centers
    • General retailers
    • Home improvement stores
  • Don’t want to go out to shop? Some retailers even offer online sales and home delivery.
• Use the visual tree guide for a close-up look at the many popular types of real Christmas trees!