Dear Maggie,

Oh, I hope you can help! I’m at my wit’s end. It’s our first Christmas as a married couple, and my husband wants a real tree. I’ve used artificial for a long time, now, due to my concerns about the environment. The number of trees cut down each year only to be decorated and lit up as they slowly die, is astounding, and issues of deforestation and the resulting climate change are global and urgent.

My husband knew my views about the environment long before we married. He’s been very good about recycling, and buying organic products, not littering and keeping the lights off when not in use. He even agreed that our new car would be a hybrid. But he’s not budging on this Christmas tree issue. He says the best part of his childhood Christmas memories was trudging into the forest with his grandpa and choosing a tree, cutting it down and bringing it home. How can I enjoy the holidays if I have to look at a living thing that has been murdered just so we can hang shiny baubles on it?

I don’t know why he won’t budge on this, but it’s threatening to ruin our first Christmas as a married couple, and I don’t want that to happen. But I’m not going to let it go, either. Please help!

Signed,

Tree Hugger

Dear Tree Hugger,