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Artificial Christmas trees get nod over fresh

VANCOUVER - Far more Canadians, Americans and Britons will celebrate Christmas on Saturday with artificial Christmas trees in their houses than real ones, according to a survey released on Friday.

Sixty two percent of Britons, 58 percent of Canadians and 53 percent of Americans use artificial trees, while only about 16 percent of Americans and Canadians and 14 percent of Britons use fresh trees, according to poll done by Angus Reid Public Opinion.

More than a quarter of the people surveyed in each country said they did not plan to have a tree at all, the survey found.

Most artificial tree users cited convenience as their motivation, and a third felt it was better for the environment, according to the polling firm.

Tradition was the main motivation for users of real trees, and more than a quarter of fresh-tree buyers felt their decision was the better environmental choice.

The poll was conducted online between Dec. 14 and 17, with opinions sought from the 1,000 Canadians, 1.005 Americans and 2,003 Britons who are part of Angus Reid’s regular political survey forums in the three countries.