OT: Keeping it real...or not?

[William]

Just wondering how many folks who celebrate Christmas still go with a real tree vs. going with an artificial tree?

We grew up with real trees and I even worked on a friends tree farm when I was a teen so it just seemed the natural choice (see what I did there ). My grandparents has an artificial tree back in the day and it wasn't a very convincing example though now days they seem to be pretty realistic looking.


What do you do?





William

[hokoman]

I had a Balsam Hill tree for a couple years. Pretty amazing if you spend the time to feather out all the branches. Don't know if I could stomach the cost for another one though. My wife is pushing me to get a small tree this year. We'll see where that ends up!

[cp43]

I don't put up a tree.

My parents go for a real one though. If I do ever end up putting up a tree, it will probably be a real one.

When I was a kid, part of the family Christmas tradition was driving around for most of a Saturday to find and cut down the right tree. You miss out of all that fun, and mud, if you go for an artificial one

Chris

[gasman]

I live in Oregon- we do real trees dammit.

[Elefantino]

We lived in Florida and used to buy trees from North Carolina.

Now we live in North Carolina and use an artificial tree that we bought in ... Florida.

[oldpotatoe]

Best is real tree, potted, alive then plant it. Shame to kill a tree...

[zmudshark]

Originally Posted by oldpotatoe

Best is real tree, potted, alive then plant it. Shame to kill a tree...

^^^This if you have a tree, and can move a live tree.

I am a retired UPS driver. Christmas is not my favorite holiday. No tree for me.

[Matthew]

As a kid we used a real tree. Got married, we used an artificial tree. Now we don't put up a tree at all. And very few decorations to be honest. Still enjoy the holiday but so few family members left there is no big celebration. Did just plant ten pine trees in the backyard this fall though.

[Don49]

No tree here, just a Festivus pole.

[Joxster]

Always a real tree, plastic trees are so trailer park these days

[lucieli]

Our local HS orchestra sells trees every year for a fundraiser. Super nice trees from Canada, not too expensive and supports a great cause. We buy from them every year before they sell out.

Have a safe, healthy and happy holiday season folks!

[Jaybee]

Originally Posted by oldpotatoe

Best is real tree, potted, alive then plant it. Shame to kill a tree...

Did this for years when I was a kid. There's a nice row of 20 something pine trees outside my parents old house (which has since been razed, but whatever).

I didn't do a tree for years, started again when I had kids. Been using the same Target lights-included artificial tree for 6 years now, and it still looks great.

[Ozz]

Originally Posted by lucieli

Our local HS orchestra sells trees every year for a fundraiser. Super nice trees from Canada, not too expensive and supports a great cause. We buy from them every year before they sell out.

Have a safe, healthy and happy holiday season folks!

We buy real tree from local nursery a couple blocks away.....then "donate to" the local Scout troop to pick up the tree and recycle it after New Year.

[alancw3]

always opted for a real tree until last christmas. after seventy years finally opted for artificial tree. doesn't have the smell but damned if i can really tell it is fake. cleanup so much easier. don't miss all those needles everywhere. up front cost is way more but should last for many years. should have done this twenty years ago.

[Clean39T]

First year my wife and I are "home" for the holidays - and will be our first year with a real tree - just a little one - 3-ft. or so..

We've been 13 years with...a Fake Plastic Tree.

A festivus pole would be more in line with our general orientation to the season - alas, memories and traditions and what feels right is hard to get around even if you want to.