The New Intimacy

For those celebrating Christmas: REAL or FAKE tree?

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Contributor: Annemarie Annemarie
We do fake--I'm allergic to most tree pollen, and it's just not environmentally friendly to cut down a tree for a few weeks of enjoyment.

I do these really awesome cinnamon-scented pinecones that I'll sneak into the tree to make it smell good. Usually have a bunch of yummy smelling candles, too.
12/01/2010
Contributor: flamefire flamefire
I've never had a real tree. My mom told me that before I was born she and my dad brought home a real tree (like they always used to do) and it was full of spider eggs that hatched as soon as they set it up in their house, it was a nightmare. Sooooo no more real trees for my family, and really, I don't blame my parents for not wanting real trees anymore, I like our fake one just fine.
12/01/2010
Contributor: Miss Morphine Miss Morphine
We've (my roomie and I) decided to go with a live tree this year. We'll pick it up next weekish and we'll replant it a few days after Christmas. That means no sparkly tinsel for the cat to make a mess. I don't know if it will be a proper Christmas without having to clean up the tinsel carnage.
12/01/2010
Contributor: ~LaUr3n~ ~LaUr3n~
Real tree. It's the only way to do it. The smell is amazing.
12/01/2010
Contributor: Liz2 Liz2
I just love a real tree but since I like to keep the tree around for a few weeks it will be a fake tree that hopefully I will have up this weekend.
12/01/2010
Contributor: Anne Ardeur Anne Ardeur
Fake all the way. Pine makes me sneeze.
12/01/2010
Contributor: Alicia Alicia
I'd love to have a real one but there are a fewq reasons why we always have a fake one.

1. I have horrible allergies.

2. My cat likes to go outside to go to the bathroom like dogs do. He doesn't like to use a litter box. When outside he always pees on trees, I cannot see this being good with a tree in the living room. We once had a potted palm...and yea, that had to leave.
12/01/2010
Contributor: MeliPixie MeliPixie
I love the smell and feel and look of a real tree... Nothing beats what Mother Nature has already provided. So I voted real tree. However, my and my boyfriend's apartment is sooo tiny... so we have a six-inch-tall fake tree with little white lights at the tips of some of the branches! XDDD
12/01/2010
Contributor: 00 00
Yes we celebrate Christmas. No tree.
12/01/2010
Contributor: namelesschaos namelesschaos
A fake tree cheaper and easier to deal with. Lazy
12/01/2010
Contributor: Viktor Vysheslav Malkin Viktor Vysheslav Malkin
Yay! Looks like us fakers are coming on strong! We were down in the voting when I lasted posted
12/01/2010
Contributor: KnK KnK
I can't vote. No tree. My family is kinda religious and likes to put up a manger scene for the holidays
12/01/2010
Contributor: Midway through Midway through
We have to have a fake one, my daddy is allergic to real sadly.
12/01/2010
Contributor: LicentiouslyYours LicentiouslyYours
If our family hadn't given up real trees when I was in high school (after my doctor declared my annual month-sinus issues to be the tree's fault) I'd probably be encouraging them to do so now. I can't rectify the idea of killing a tree, keeping it for a few weeks and then dumping it into a landfill with my sense of what the holidays should be about.

That, and about 8 years ago I won a lovely, pre-lit tree with a built-in stand, in a raffle, and it saves tons of time and hassle when decorating and has yet to shed a single needle for me to vacuum.
12/01/2010
Contributor: Lady Venus Lady Venus
Real tree. We've always had a real tree growing up, the highlight of Christmas was always going to chop down a tree! - loved it! Last year we tried the fake tree to save room, the mess, and the money (cant chop trees these days)......yeah we'll be going to a real tree this year. I really missed the smell of the Christmas tree. It just wasn't the same...
12/01/2010
Contributor: cherryredhead88 cherryredhead88
Quote:
Originally posted by LavenderSkies
Real or fake? Trees, that is!
I would love to have a real tree, but I live in a very complicated area up three flights of stairs around the back of the bldg, and I have a 20lb kid who is just about a year old, so yeah, we will pass on that for now. Once I move to a better place and he is a little older I will get a real one.
12/01/2010
Contributor: lamira lamira
I know fake trees are convenient, easy, and cheaper, but I strongly dislike them. I prefer a real tree. I love the experience of hunting for the perfect tree, cutting it down, bringing it back to the house, decorating it, and having that fresh pine scent in the house.
12/01/2010
Contributor: Throwingawaysoon Throwingawaysoon
We've always done real trees. It's been a family tradition to let the tree stay up for 30 days after christmas before letting it dry out, outside. Once it dries out completely, we, and a bunch of friends, will go out and have a bonfire with it. 3 or 4 other families will also bring their trees. It always smells so good It's a nice get together too. (We are always on private property of 20+ acres, so I don't wanna hear anything about not being careful lol. We have a concrete slab we have the bonfire on.)
12/01/2010
Contributor: Alan & Michele Alan & Michele
I prefer real trees but ONLY when we can find one small enough to have a root ball so we can plant it outside after the holidays. Otherwise we just pull out the trusty fake one.
12/02/2010
Contributor: Maiden Maiden
Fake. I love the smell of the real trees, but I get sad about wasting a whole tree. I am the same about fresh flowers. I just hate to watch them die! My son's first Christmas, I asked my man to buy me a small potted tree that I could plant after and watch it grow with our son. I even have the the potted Poinsettia from last year on my table. I was thinking about getting a fresh wreath this year so we could still have the pine smell in the house.
12/02/2010
Contributor: El-Jaro El-Jaro
I'm really up in the air on this one.

Real:
+ Smells better
+ More traditional
- Removes a tree from nature
- BIG fire hazard

Fake:
+ Buy it once and you're set
+ Don't even really have to undecorate it
- Plastic/Metal, is recycling possible? Sit in a dump when dead?
- Seems really commercialized.

I really like dwtim's solution!
12/02/2010
Contributor: Eeyor89 Eeyor89
Quote:
Originally posted by LavenderSkies
Real or fake? Trees, that is!
I have a lil purple fake tree. its easy to maintain and set up. I love it.
12/02/2010
Contributor: Mr. E Mr. E
We have a fake tree. It meets our needs just fine other than the whole assembly and disassembly process. It takes forever to erect. But, I do have to admit that it is really beautiful when completed. My other gripe is the amount of storage space it takes up. The tree and decorations take up a whole closet. Arrgh! Every year, I tell myself that we need to switch to a smaller tree.
Maybe next year.
12/02/2010
Contributor: potstickers potstickers
I pick a fake tree because I don't like the smell of a real tree. Pine needles are a pain as well. Also, I don't like the idea of cutting down trees to stick in your living room for a few weeks and then throwing them out.
12/02/2010
Contributor: Porfiriato Porfiriato
We have to get a fake one, it's safer at this point for the kitties, since we don't really have a place to put it where they can't get to it.
12/12/2010
Contributor: Raggedy Andie Raggedy Andie
Real tree for sure. I love the smell.
Also, my best friend's dad owns a tree farm and I get discounts!
12/12/2010
Contributor: Airekah Airekah
Next year, I won't have a tree. This year my roommate bought a pre-lit fake one.
12/12/2010
Contributor: ToyTimeTim ToyTimeTim
Quote:
Originally posted by El-Jaro
I'm really up in the air on this one.

Real:
+ Smells better
+ More traditional
- Removes a tree from nature
- BIG fire hazard

Fake:
+ Buy it once and you're set
+ Don't even really have to undecorate ... more
Ya, it warms the house with the smell and color, then it warms the house with heat the next year. I do not pay to warm the house so I have more $$ to spend here.
12/12/2010
Contributor: LavenderSkies LavenderSkies
Quote:
Originally posted by Jul!a
At my house we have 2 6' tall light up palm trees in the front yard that we usually wrap with garland or something festive for Christmas
Beautiful
12/17/2010
Contributor: LavenderSkies LavenderSkies
Quote:
Originally posted by fghjkl
I save one tree every year by putting up my artificial tree. I just pop a pine scented tart into my tart burner
Love pine candles!
12/17/2010