The great debate. Real vs fake Christmas trees.

[Julia1996]

Hi everyone. Last year I bought a really pretty 6 foot artificial Christmas tree at an after Christmas clearance sale. It's pre lit with Led lights. So yesterday I told my brother to bring it down from the attic for me. My dad said no, he didn't want a fake tree. Ok, last year when I bought the tree he said it was fine. Now he changed his mind. I'm tired of real trees. For one thing you have to worry about keeping water in the stand so the tree won't dry out. Another thing is needles on the carpet. My dad said that wasn't an issue because our vacuum cleaner is really powerful.  That doesn't matter. Some of the needles get woven into the carpet. A black hole couldn't pull those out. I have to get down there and work them out one at a time.

The fake tree already has lights on it. You just plug it in and decorate it. My dad and brother always pick a huge tree. 7-8 feet tall.  Since they both always seem to not be around when it's time to decorate the tree I have to use a step ladder to string the lights and garland. That's tedious! I kind of understand why my dad wants a real tree. My grandparents have this silver monstrosity they've put up every Christmas since before my dad was even born. There's this spotlight thing that shines on the tree that changes colors. It's hideous.  So I told my dad if he has to have a real tree he and Tyler could decorate it. They both started saying they didn't know how to decorate a Christmas tree. I told them it wasn't brain surgery.  So now they are calling me a grinch.

This made me wonder how other people feel about real vs fake trees. Do you have only a real tree or would you be happy with a fake tree?

[Devlyn]

Oh, now you've done it! We had a nice forum but you had to bring up this divisive topic. 

I like a real tree....in someone else's house, of course.   

Hugs, Devlyn

[RachelH]

Hi Julia,
I prefer the smell of a real tree but they are definitely more work and depending on the species, can be much more expensive in the long run.  While I love everything about them, like you we opted for a very good Martha Stewart 9' tree a few years ago.  It was close to $500 but it looks great today as it did when we fist took it out of the box new.  Since it is so tall, we still have to use a ladder but it is lightly flocked and brightly lit and to be honest, the lights are the hardest part to me.  If I want the smell, we will but some fresh garland or swags and hang them but the kids are getting to the age where they don't really care so we just do what we do and I will stick with the artificial one.
Good luck!
Paula

[RachelH]

Oh, now you've done it! We had a nice forum but you had to bring up this divisive topic. 

I like a real tree....in someone else's house, of course.   

Hugs, Devlyn

Yep, let them vacuum the needles that are stuck in the carpet when they take it down!  LOL

[sarah1972]

Hahaha... can we add the question candles versus incandescent versus LED lights to the mix?

Personally I prefer a real tree. With cats and a 20 month old, we usually end up putting it on the front porch...

And on the lights... meh... I am "one of those"... in good years I had 50,000 + LED's on my house blinking to music, yard filled with inflatables and I would spent way too much time on it. So I am all crazy about stuff like this.

[Julia1996]

Yep, let them vacuum the needles that are stuck in the carpet when they take it down!  LOL

Last year after it was time to take out the tree, instead of opening both of the double doors, like when they brought the tree in, my brother left one door closed and just jerked the tree through one door. I think every needle on that tree fell off when he did that. My brother just stood there with a dumb look on his face. He said he didn't think that would happen.  Really? You snatch a tree that's wider than the door through it and you're surprised all the needles fell off? DUHHHH. A mess doesn't even cover it. I had to use a broom and dustpan before I could even think of using the vacuum.

[HappyMoni]

You know Julia, forget a show about Jazz's family. I would love to see a reality show based on your family. You paint such a picture in your posts. I picture it as full of adventure and love. Oh, I guess I better answer the question huh? Real tree, love a real tree. I was the youngest of 5 kids, and my sister and I would go behind the tree as our special place. She died in 2007 but I will always have that memory. The smell kicks it in every time. Plastic doesn't do that for me.
Moni

[Faith]

First, yes. Let them deal with the tree

Second, i prefer real. We had an artificial last year and likely will use it again this year. Ir's easier.

Third, we've always tree burned on New Years Eve. I can't do that with an artificial.

Pros and cons, there is no right answer

[Julia1996]

Hahaha... can we add the question candles versus incandescent versus LED lights to the mix?

Personally I prefer a real tree. With cats and a 20 month old, we usually end up putting it on the front porch...

And on the lights... meh... I am "one of those"... in good years I had 50,000 + LED's on my house blinking to music, yard filled with inflatables and I would spent way too much time on it. So I am all crazy about stuff like this.

Candles?  How could you use candles on a tree? It would catch on fire. Oh yeah, the outside decorations. My dad is totally anal about the outside decorations and really I think he over does it. Though it is fun to listen to he and Tyler arguing and debating over what will look good where. I always worried about the cat wrecking the Christmas tree but it was my dog who actually did. She grabbed the garland on the very bottom of the tree and I guess she played tug of war with it and the whole tree fell over. Thankfully she didn't get hurt.

[Devlyn]

When I do have a tree, I use only flashing lights. I love that occasional split second when the strings sync up and the whole tree goes dark.

[Dianne H]

We always had a real tree for the kids.
Every year my wife would ask me to plant it in the back yard when I took it out of the house.
Like a dummy, I did.
The tree faithfully died each year.
The frozen ground and using a pick should have foretold this but I love her.
Ten years later one of the tress that survived is six feet tall.
My son comes home to live with us in the summer.
He cuts the tree down for a place to park his 4X4.
It'll be a fake tree this year.

[Laurie]

  My Dear Julia,

  You are not a grinch. I have yet to relinquish that title. If one my have a tree then it must be a real tree. For many years I made the drive to the mountain forests here in the snow with my to hunt down a nice fresh tree to cut down and fetch home myself. Many times I was alone and in other years I brought my nephews to help find "The  Tree" Getting the tree and setting it in place was my contribution to the holiday I've disliked since childhood. Yes I bought presents and hated shopping for them. I didn't mind giving presents but wanted none for myself. I got some anyway and was hard press to appear appreciative. I still hate receiving gifts for many probably unreasonable reasons. I would much prefer others honor my wishes. I have a difficult time with gratitude.
   Since my mom died (she loved Christmas) my sister and I don't celebrate the holiday. We get a few gifts for others yes and get a couple in return. But no tree, no decorations and no special meal. It is just another day around here. The last several years I would spend a few days at my daughters with my grand children and attend Christmas services with them at their church but even that is gone this year. I am no longer welcome there.
  I'm good with being The Grinch. I fit the part well.

Laurie

[MaryT]

... A mess doesn't even cover it. I had to use a broom and dustpan before I could even think of using the vacuum.

Don't cry CindersJulia, you WILL go to the ball.

[MaryT]

  I good with being The Grinch. I fit the part well.

Well, this year I know that many members will be raising a glass to the Grinch.

[MaryT]

We always had a real tree for the kids.
Every year my wife would ask me to plant it in the back yard when I took it out of the house.
Like a dummy, I did.
The tree faithfully died each year.
The frozen ground and using a pick should have foretold this but I love her.
Ten years later one of the tress that survived is six feet tall.
My son comes home to live with us in the summer.
He cuts the tree down for a place to park his 4X4.
It'll be a fake tree this year.

So sad.  While spending Xmas in what is now Zimbabwe many years ago, I heard of someone planting their tree in their garden, and that it sprang up rapidly.  Some advantages to having Xmas without snow, I suppose.

I have never even seen a real Xmas tree inside a house.  I have been tempted by miniature real trees, just a few inches tall, that I have seen for sale, though.  This house hasn't seen decorations for at least seven years but this Xmas I will put up an equally small fake tree that I was given as a child.  It is bent and missing a couple of baubles but it will be nostalgic.

[Shambles]

We always go fake but i do pine for a real one

[Julia1996]

  My Dear Julia,

  You are not a grinch. I have yet to relinquish that title. If one my have a tree then it must be a real tree. For many years I made the drive to the mountain forests here in the snow with my to hunt down a nice fresh tree to cut down and fetch home myself. Many times I was alone and in other years I brought my nephews to help find "The  Tree" Getting the tree and setting it in place was my contribution to the holiday I've disliked since childhood. Yes I bought presents and hated shopping for them. I didn't mind giving presents but wanted none for myself. I got some anyway and was hard press to appear appreciative. I still hate receiving gifts for many probably unreasonable reasons. I would much prefer others honor my wishes. I have a difficult time with gratitude.
   Since my mom died (she loved Christmas) my sister and I don't celebrate the holiday. We get a few gifts for others yes and get a couple in return. But no tree, no decorations and no special meal. It is just another day around here. The last several years I would spend a few days at my daughters with my grand children and attend Christmas services with them at their church but even that is gone this year. I am no longer welcome there.
  I good with being The Grinch. I fit the part well.

Laurie

Cutting your own tree sounds really cool. I'm sorry you don't like Christmas but I can understand that you don't.  I was getting to the point where Christmas is far more work than fun. My mom has never been wild about Christmas and does as little as possible to prepare for it. She made me decorate the tree and wrap all the gifts. When I turned 16 she gave me her credit cards and lists and made me do her shopping as well. I enjoy Christmas shopping, but I enjoy doing my own Christmas shopping. When you have endless lists of stuff including a crapload of gifts for her friends and the people she worked with , that wasn't enjoyable. I also like wrapping gifts I'm giving to people and i don't mind wrapping stuff my dad and brother bought , but when you have to wrap a mountain of stuff for people you don't know or people you don't like it gets tedious fast. Plus I had my mom criticizing everything I did and telling me to use good paper and wrap them right because they were for people she worked with. And having her tell me some of them looked like a monkey wrapped them and to re-wrap them.

So I do understand why the holidays can be hard for some people. I'm sad to say I'm looking forward to Christmas this year because my mom won't be a part of it.

[Laurie]

  You cannot beat cutting your own tree from a free growing forest for freshness and aroma. There is also is something attractive about getting a tree that you have searched for yourself that is the best untrimmed shape you can find. I abhor the commercial trees that appear to have been trimmed in a huge pencil sharpener. Give be a wild grown one any day.

Laurie

[KathyLauren]

My mother always used to have an artificial tree.  I used to help her set it up and decorate it.

My wife and I don't do a tree at all.  Never have.  It's all humbug.  We string up some lights outside, because it's so dark this time of year.  That's all.

[Charlotte F]

I can't believe you're even asking this question Julia - it has to be real

That smell that fills the whole house just brings back every good childhood memory of Christmas for me

They are a pain in the bum though.  This year when I was laid up recovering, I wouldn't let anyone take my tree down.  It lasted until March and brightened up the living room until I was well enough to take it down!  Unfortunately, one tap on the tree taking decorations off and every needle fell into a huge pile on the carpet!  I swear, even now I still seem to be finding needles when I clean