It's that crazy time of year again: shoppers finding the perfect gifts for their loved ones, searching for the greatest deals and preparing to see the whole family again. A huge tradition in most households comes from the holiday activity of decorating the tree.

As time continues to go on, people are starting to go back and forth between real evergreens and fake, store-bought trees. Many people choose a side, but there are plenty of reasons for people to pick either one.

Store-bought trees are becoming more popular in today's society. They are being sold by the millions each year in the United States to families. Many people are using these as the alternative for a real Christmas tree, but is it really better?

Artificial Christmas trees are not only great for people with allergies, but the tree also could represent any of your interests. For example, if your favorite color is purple, there is a purple Christmas tree waiting for you in the aisle of your local department store. Along with that, it is cost-effective because it is a one-time purchase compared to buying a tree every year.

But there is one thing that a fake tree cannot give you: memories. Yes, you can make the memories of getting the tree out of the attic and decorating it, but it does not create the same type of memories.

When I was growing up, one of my favorite memories from Christmas was going to a Christmas Tree Farm. My parents, brothers, grandmother and I went through the rows and rows of Christmas trees until we found the perfect one for us (that year, of course). Once we chopped it down, we took it back to our house and spent the whole day decorating it.

That memory is from when I was very young, but it is still a memory that I carry with me now. Memories that last a lifetime are something that cannot happen with an artificial tree.

Even though an artificial tree may help allergy sufferers and give a less "traditional" feel, real trees create unforgettable memories for families all over the world.