Do you prefer real or artificial Christmas trees?

There always seems to be one debate that arises during the holiday season: artificial versus real Christmas trees.

Since 79 percent of American homes display Christmas trees, it can be a very heated debate. Artificial trees are taking the lead accounting for 80 percent of the trees in American homes, NPR reported.

Artificial trees are also bringing in a lot of money. In the first nine months of 2014 $137.5 million worth of artificial trees were shipped to the United States to China, the article stated.

But organizations such as the National Christmas Tree Association have data that shows 25 to 30 million natural Christmas trees are bought each year.

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.

When analyzing the arguments, it's a toss up in determining the advantages and disadvantages. NPR reports:

Each tree group argues that its offering is more popular and more economical and possesses qualities that are beneficial to the environment, the economy and personal health. Some real trees can be replanted; some artificial trees last for years.

Relying on tradition may be another reason for choosing either an artificial or real tree.

Today's Question: Do you prefer real or artificial Christmas trees?