In days of old, the holiday season was filled with the smells of roasted turkey, pumpkin pie and pine trees. Today, sadly, many homes only get the ?fresh? smell of a Christmas pine tree when someone is burning a pine-scented candle. An artificial tree may be the perfect solution for holiday decorating. Factors of cost, ease of setup and maintenance, health concerns and even fashion may play into the decision to forsake a real tree for a facsimile.

It isn't any secret that the artificial trees are becoming more and more ?lifelike? than every before. Artificial Christmas trees in the past were stiff, uncompromising and did not arrive with lights already strung. For many, the idea of setting up an artificial tree, stringing the lights and dealing with storage wasn't that far off from traveling to purchase a natural tree, stringing the lights and disposing of the dried tree at the end of the holiday season. Using a natural tree provided that fresh holiday pine scent and for a little extra money and effort each year, it was worth buying fresh for many people. However, today's artificial Christmas trees are much easier to set up, many come pre-strung with Christmas lights and are easy to store in their original box or storage bags. It takes only seconds to set up a pre-strung artificial tree and once set up, the tree can remain on display for an extended period of time without drying out.

Artificial Christmas Trees are proving a strong competition for Mother Nature as more and more families gather around the artificial Christmas tree on Christmas morning. One of the most valuable reasons to use the artificial Christmas tree is the reduction in fire hazards; the fake tree is simply safer for a family to use. In addition, the artificial tree is a one-time purchase that can be used over and over again. If you are someone that enjoys the family outing to hunt for the Holiday Christmas tree, the sweet smell of fresh pine as you set up your tree and the sense of tradition that is built on these types of holiday activities, then an artificial Christmas tree is not for you. It is impossible to get these traditional holiday emotions when shopping for a plastic tree at your local department store.

In our house, we compromised for a holiday solution that satisfies everyone. In the living room, which is heated with a woodstove, we use an artificial Christmas tree so that we need not be concerned with the problems of a natural tree drying out or becoming a fire hazard. In the kitchen, another place where heat is a concern, we use another slim fitting artificial Christmas tree. In the family room, a room that is always kept a bit cooler, we use a large natural tree that fills the entire room with the fresh scent of pine. By utilizing this compromise each year, we get the best of both worlds; fire safe trees where it is important to be cautious of fire hazards and the fun holiday tradition of a freshly cut Christmas tree picked out by the little ones from a u-cut tree farm.