Since nothing is gained and nothing is lost .that massacred tree will rot and return to the earth where it came from.
Yes looong, it will return to the earth, and this is why I am OK with a Christmas trees personally - just as I sometimes clip flowers and place them in a case. For me, it is about the cycle of life, and being grateful for whatever sustains us, and supporting sustainable agriculture etc. Most Christmas trees are grown on farms for that purpose and not taken from the wild, so it is not much different than eating vegetables from the store that are grown on a farm. It is a ritual use of a plant, and if it is done respectfully it is OK - most religious traditions do have rituals and sacrifices that involve plants, and I think of this in that vein. But we all have to make these decisions for ourselves. We are all part of the cycle of life.
