A vast majority of Americans celebrating Christmas in 2023 are doing so artificially, at least as far as their Christmas trees are concerned, according to a new survey.
The Real Christmas Tree Board reports that 77% of Americans will be going the fake tree route for their holiday décor.
Real tree purchases have been on the decline slowly over the last 40-50 years, Real Christmas Tree Board Executive Director Marsha Gray told CNN.
The shift was fueled by advancements in making artificial trees look more real, she said, and the decline in the economy around 2008 resulted in fewer trees being planted at Christmas tree farms.
“It’s part art, part science and part crystal ball,” Gray said, noting it takes an average of seven years to grow a tree, and sometimes upwards of 10-15 years. “You really are trying to guess what’s going to sell and how much can sell 10 years from now.”
Additionally, imports of fake trees have doubled in the last 10 years, and in 2023, 90% of the artificial trees sold in America came from China.