Real or Fake tree?

[Dustinl]

Okay, twas two days before Christmas and we are slow at work. So........

Those who put up Christmas trees, do you prefer real or fake? Growing up, my parents always had a fake tree which was fine, but whenever I saw real trees decorated, I thought they were absolutely beautiful!

We have a Christmas tree farm about a mile down the road from our new house, so this year we have started the tradition of going to the farm, picking our own tree, cutting it, and taking it home and decorating it. It was really fun this year and I hope to establish these Christmas memories for my son.



DL

 

[chainfire]

Fake for years. My folks used to get real ones from a lot (never a farm) and while I miss the magnificent smell, I can't say I miss the needles everywhere and crawling under it every day to water it.

 

[luvmysuper]

I love real trees, but we have moved into a place that does not permit real trees.

We went out to find an artificial tree, and I am quite amazed at how real and life-like modern artificial trees can look if you're willing to spend a little cash.

What's more, these trees are pre-lighted, and I won't find myself screaming in fits of frustration at the process of untangling last years light strand "ball".

Spend a little extra on the fake tree and be glad you don't have;

1. A pine needle mess to clean up constantly.
2. A huge fire hazard sitting in the middle of your living space.
3. A disposal problem after the New Year.

 

[azmark]

I don't have many memories of my father and I doing "father and son" traditions but the one that always will stick is going out to pick a tree. Now having a 3 and 4 year old boys I can't imagine their memory being us pull our tree out of the box from the garage or attic.

That being said. Man I want a fake tree for the everyone else's pros. So Im going to keep with the real tree.

 

[paulboeck]

Fake all the way from childhood to now. No Clark Griswold shenanigans for me.

 

[mgarbell]

We have a fake tree. Even though I know they are grown for the purpose, I hate the thought of buying a real tree only to throw it away. And, even worse, is all the trees on the lots that aren't bought.

Our tree looks pretty good and this is it's 7th Christmas. We bought it on sale for $45, so we really got our moneys worth.

 

[redbike]

Real, or nothing.

 

[Miles]

I can go for both, depending. Love the great pine smell in the house from a real tree, and when decorated properly they are fully awesome. Always had real trees ever since a wee lad. This said, we recently scored a vintage aluminum tree which looks incredible in our mid-century modern southern Cali ranch home. Its got the rotating color wheel and everything, deluxe! I've been referring to it as the cyborg Christmas tree, but it really is quite cool.

 

[liege]

Our's is real, and it's spectacular! We did consider an aluminum pole once, but that's another story. I hate the needle mess, the fire hazard, the awkward watering(that's what kids are for). But real is the way to go.
Merry Christmas, everyone!

 

[FreezerBurns]

This year, Real... Hand selected at Home Depot

 

[eldonanda]

This year...both!

 

[wildwing9825]

It's Real or Nothing for me. I can't have christmas without that divine smell permeating the house. Well worth the clean up and cost!

 

[Swampfox]

My parents started using an artificial tree de to my sisters' allergies. After getting married I have continued to use an artificial tree mainly due to my own allergies. Next year though, I am going to put up a Festivus pole because tinsel is getting way too distracting.

 

[rainman]

No reason to kill a tree and bring it into the house. This is pagan ritual. A fake tree works fine or what I do is buy a live tree and when Christmas is over I plant it in the forest.

 

[firstfloorfront]

We have a fake fiber optic jobbie that has the lights built in. Ideal for us in a small flat

Peter

 

[KaiserKrebs]

My parents had a fake tree that they used up until I was about ten years old, then for another 10-15 years They had only real trees, now out of convenience they switched back to fake trees again. I love the smell of a real tree, there's nothing like it, last year my wife and I had a small noble fir for our first tree together, it was beautifully decorated...but I was totally concerned about the quality of the cheap base we'd bought. Sure enough, about 1am the first night the tree was up, I heard a huge thud, and ran to the living room to see our proud tree toppled over! I fixed it, but what a memory...this year due to our toddler, we went with an artificial table top tree.

The Evergreen tree was representative of the promise of renewed fertility, and the lights, or originally candles promised the return of the sun. Adopted from the celtic rituals of the winter solstice, the practice of decorated christmas trees began in Germany in the early seventeenth century, but was not truly popularized until around 1840 when Queen Victoria brought a Christmas tree to Balmoral castle. Much of the clergy in the early days of the custom found it frivolous, but was so popular they eventually began to weave in Christian associations over the ancient pagan ones.

I lived in the mid-west for a few years, and after Christmas the used trees were burned, in a celebration of the "twelfth night" I regret not going to see this event now, as the state I currently reside finds this environmentally irresponsible.

 

[Navig8tor]

Always had a fake tree. Growing up we had a woodburning fireplace in the living room and real trees and flames are not a good combination.

 

[thunderball]

When I'm home in Canada: real
When I'm in Japan: fake

 

[luvmysuper]

When I'm home in Canada: real
When I'm in Japan: fake

Yeah, but that's because all Canadiens are Lumberjacks, and their back yard is 875 hectares of wilderness.

 

[Amer]

Been using a fake for several years now after growing up with real trees. Can't say I miss the real ones, and I can take my fake one down in the basement without even disassembling it. Doesn't matter really though, I married into a family that covers every bit of green space with an ornament or garland or ribbons, and my wife is the same way. It really does make for a great looking tree.