CHRISTMAS TREES: Real or Artificial?

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

So if you celebrate Christmas, what do you typically get, a real or artificial tree? I live upstate so it's easy to get the real ones. Usually ours is at least 10 feet- but today we got a 6 foot tree, and I was bummed out :P

I know for many people it is easier to get fake tress, but nothing beats a good old evergreen. Which do DUers get? :)

[Obamarama]

1. I'm Jewish, but I would likely choose a real tree....

For the same reason I find menorahs with electric bulbs the eptiome of tackiness. The holidays come ONCE A YEAR. Why not do it right and with some authenticity?

[Cush]

2. Artificial

Real ones always die out on us. Plus we have two cats, one likes to climb the real trees, the other likes to chew on the needles.

[wryter2000]

3. Real, in a pot

Several years ago I bought the dh a Norfolk Island pine in a pot. Every year we bring it inside and decorate it. Then, on January 1, I take off the decorations and put it back outside. (We live in the SF bay area, very easy climate.)

Five years ago, we had to prop it on a table for height. Next year, it'll probably be reaching from the floor to the ceiling. I love our tree!

[DemExpat]

8. Wow that sounds great....have you re-potted it yet?

I've tried this once or twice, but the trees died over the summer....
Do you give it special attention and fertilizer, etc?

DemEx

[Melsky]

4. Branches from the pine trees in my yard

I think they are mesquite trees. I like the smell of evergreens in the house. I don't want to get a whole tree, with the expense and then having to deal with hauling it. I may try to make some sort of wreaths too.

[leftist_rebel1569]

5. Artificial

Because they're better and they don't smell stinky like real trees :P

[JohnKleeb]

21. but real trees are natural

:P
so there.

[leftist_rebel1569]

25. brilliant observation, captain obvious

lol :P

[JohnKleeb]

27. Ok Admiral Dork

:P

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

28. Not Admirable!, Admiral

[leftist_rebel1569]

29. But I am admirable...

:D

(btw, that was kinda lame Kleeb, but funny :))

[JohnKleeb]

31. Keep in mind I was near asleep when I said that

:D
Dorkus McSkorkus :D

[JohnKleeb]

39. I won!

Take that Admiral Dork!

[JohnKleeb]

30. Thanks Maggie I edited

:hi:
He's Admiral Dork again :D as I indended.

[greatauntoftriplets]

6. Real.

A Fraser fir.

[ikojo]

7. No tree...just a menorah

Happy Holidays to all...regardless of what you celebrate...anything that brings people together in friendship and love cannot be a bad thing.

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

15. I always thought menorahs were cooler than trees,

Maybe it's the pyro in me but the lighting of each flame seems more symbolic than a tree.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

9. Never had a tree

when I was a Christian because I felt it was sad to cut one down and ridiculous to have a plastic one.

[VOX]

10. Real, from the lot. (hey, I'm in L.A.!)

But typically, a smaller one.

And the cats start eyeballing it the minute it comes through the door."Oh, what a cool thing you brought us, and look at those little shiny objects all over it!"

:toast:

[chaska]

11. other

I don't do xmas, but if I did it would have to be a real tree. Artificial?!?! What are you people, aliens?

[JohnKleeb]

12. O tanataum

Real one preferably, I dont cant explain it.

[jburton]

13. Artificial

Too many allergy sufferers in this home for a real one.

Besides, I live in the city, so I'd have to settle for one that's at a lot.

[Redbear]

24. Allergies prohibit the real thing in our house, too.

Just walking through them at the grocery store I could feel it in my throat. AAAKK!

[scarlet_owl]

14. My apartment doesn't allow real trees.

We always had real ones as a kid, but, and I know this sounds completely insane, I always got a bad vibe from having a real dying tree in my house. I don't have this problem with the artificial ones. Yes, real trees are authentic and natural and nice, but I don't think I'll go back to natural when I move. I already have the fake one so why spend the money each year?

[Cleita]

16. Fake.

I did get living trees for a few years, but I ran out of ground to plant them on so I have a fake one now. With the ornaments and lights on it, it looks real and it's less likely to catch fire.

[youngred]

17. You have to go cut it yourself

and bring it back and decorate it. That's the only way to do it right

YR- The Christmas freak

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

19. Damn right, Zack

That is the only way to do it! The real way!

[Lefta Dissenter]

18. OK, so it doesn't hurt

that there's a Christmas tree farm a mile from our house, so we pack up the dogs and the kids (well, they're 19 and 22, so they pretty much pack themselves up) and go cut our own.

OK, it's a CROP, so don't tell me I should feel bad about cutting them. We've lived here for almost 20 years, and the trees grow back in their fields as fast as they're cut (I guess they have good management).

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

20. Same here

about 20 miles from our house though, it's a trek but worth it.

[Interrobang]

22. Real, real, real!!

Real trees! The motion at my parents' house to get an artificial tree keeps getting voted down by us conservative kids. ;-) I can't feel too bad about cutting down the tree for two reasons: First of all, we buy them, so they're grown for the purpose; and secondly, when we're done with them, the City takes them and mulches them up and uses them for wood shakes in the municipal gardens. Everyone wins!

Also, I think most of the artificial ones available now are really, really ugly -- especially those fibre-optic ones. Taaaacky!

Menorot are *still* cooler, though, and I hope to actually get to celebrate Hannukah with the fiance and his folks this year... :)

[jpgray]

23. We always sawed our trees down, if I recall

Apartment living behooves you to be a grinch. :)

[Lefta Dissenter]

26. OOH, I finally found it!

The website for the tree waterer we got last year. Looks pretty corny until you wrap it in some nice Christmas paper, but it makes watering the tree a snap, especially for the huge trees that we get (otherwise you're crawling underneath with a pitcher of water and two dogs trying to fit underneath the tree with you, and then you spill water on the nice hardwood floor... it goes on and on...)



the website is http://www.santas-secret.com/

[Hogarth]

32. We normally get a live tree rooted in a bushel basket...

... from a local mom-and-pop nursery out in the country. Then we plant each one after Christmas in the back yard. Mari and I have been doing that every year since we've been together. I'm afraid we may break tradition this year and have no tree at all.

We're just not feeling too festive this year, for a host of reasons, not the least of which involves our son's impending January 4th deployment to points unknown (wink, wink) overseas. The Army is willing to give him the date so that he can get ready but not his destination. He's been told to expect to be gone for 12 to 18 months

Oh, well ... there is plenty of time to reconsider--about the tree, I mean ... not his Reserves status.

Happy Holidays!

[Piperay]

33. 7ft Aluminum tree

:loveya: vintage 1960s, if I didn't have that to put up I would put up a real one for the wonderful smell.

[OldEurope]

34. A real tree. With real candles. And no plastic decoration.

:hi:

[arwalden]

35. You Forgot To Include ALUMINUM Trees...

... they are the ultimate artificial tree. The artificial tree lovers artificial tree. More artificial than artificial. They deserve a category all their own. Artificial with a funky attitude. Tacky and gauche without being too pretentious.

I love them.
-- Allen

[Throckmorton]

36. Live root ball tree.

Which we donate to the local park and rec department after x-mas. They plant them where they are needed.

This year we have a blue spruce, 6 foot.

[ProfessorGAC]

37. My Aunt & Uncle Had A Fire. . .

. . .when i was a kid. The tree caught fire when a bulb shortcircuited. The thing went off like a torch.

We lived about 2 miles away, and just before we left the house, my mom called my uncle to say we were leaving. By the time they got there, the living room was totaled.

So, i've been afraid of having a real tree ever since. Artifical trees are safer, and that's ok with me.
The Professor

[Bertha Venation]

38. This year it's just gonna be...

...a fresh wreath. Hung HIGH so the cats don't eat it.