Christmas - Real or Fake Tree?

[Richard in Smithville]

We have a fake tree now. LOML and I always had the same discussion every year. I wanted the (real looking) artificial but she always won out and we got the real one. She started faltering when we had to travel farther and farther to find a good looking, reasonable priced tree. The final decission came the year that my very large dog(horse cross?) stood in front of the tree and was very happy to see my wife. Every swing of her tail hit the limbs of the tree and sent lights, decorations, and thousands of needles scattered all over the living room. That's when fake looked real good. Now we have a fake tree, in a different location.

[Jim Boyd]

Bah Humbug! No evil tree, decorations, or the such here this year

[jhart]

Went to fake over 20 years ago. Picked up a new one 2 years ago and what an improvement they have made. I think you have to spend some pretty good dollars to get one that looks anywhere near real. IMHO, anything under $200 for fake, really looks it.

When we were first married, 42 years ago, the first few years, we use to go out and cut our own. Kids loved it while they were growing up and so did we.

Guess we became more practical as we got older. After buying from tree lots for a couple of years and having them dried out before we even got them in the house, we went to the fake. Haven't looked back since then.

[Black wallnut]

Real!

Growing up in the west it was a family tradition to go out and cut our own. I think I'm the only one in my family of 3 brothers and 1 sister that have continued this tradition once I started my own family. Kids enjoy it, Mrs. 'nut has enjoyed it when she's been along and I enjoy it! Since we have so much Federal forrest (evergreen) near us sometimes I just take for granted what many just do not have available. MY inlaws sneer at our trees because they are never perfect but the memories made for our kids are priceless. Not something that can be purchased at a hardware store or tree farm. (no offense intended Tree Farmer!)

[MilDoc]

My answer would have been "Bah, humbug" until I got married. I hadn't put a tree up for at least 10 years because I was never at my home at Christmas. Then the wife insisted. Got a real tree the first year. Then she said 'nough of that! and went out and bought a fake one that looks "almost" real.

[LinuxRandal]

MISsING OTHER OPTION

Bah humbug,
Christmas brings up WAY more bad memories then good. Between that and being single, I don't bother. IF I ever did, the tree that I would LOVE to have and put up, is the old aluminum tree. Your missing that option

[Ed62]

No tree for the last 2 years. We put up a Christmas village. No little feet at our house any more, other than company. If I want a tree, I'll probably have to get rid of some tools to make room. FWIW, when we did have a tree, it was one made by God.

Ed

[L. D. Jeffries]

No matter what you say or think; #10 answer says it all!

[Jeffrey Schronce]

Like a lot of things, fake can look nice, but real is always better to the senses. LOL!

[maxparot]

Fakes pre lit here. We did real for a while but here in AZ they dry out too quickly.

[Knottscott]

A fake tree sure doesn't have the character or the smell of a real tree, and the whole experience of getting a real one and putting it up just sets the tone for the whole season....it's a big event for us and the kids. It gives them great memories of childhoold, and I couldn't stand depriving them of that tradition, even though it's a little cumbersome. The cold, needles, watering, and cursing at it, are all part if it!

[Knottscott]

Bah humbug,
... the tree that I would LOVE to have and put up, is the old aluminum tree. Your missing that option

You guys had a TV antenna for a tree?

[WayneJ]

We went for fake a few years ago. The real trees we get up here in N.J. have been cut 6-8weeks ago. The temp is about 50* today, by the time new years rolls around 1/3 of the tree would be on the rug. My dog found the smell of forest animals on the tree and had to mark it also.LOML had a fit. A nice real 6ft tree starts at about $50 and go up frome there. The fake tree was about $100, the dog is gone but we still have the tree. I guess I must be getting old. Have a happy thanksgiving and merry christmas all.
Wayne

[Bruce Cohen]

Even though I'm Jewish, we celebrate Christmas, without the religious significance, the tree is topped with a cat dressed up as an angel, couldn't find a Rabbi wearing wings

As a kid, I always had the feeling of being left out of the magic of Christmas lights and it got me depressed, so ever since I moved out at 18, I've had a tree complete with presents and a trimming party. It just feels right.

My kids loved Christmas morning, and to this date (they're 19 and 22) still get a kick out of the whole experience.

We have an artificial tree, the real ones, (at least the ones I'd enjoy in my house are way over priced. Our livingroom ceiling is 16' high.

We do celebrate Chanukkah, but on a much smaller scale, (yeah, I know I not a really good practing Jew.)

Anyway, Happy Thanksgiving and an early Merry Christmas.

Bruce

[LinuxRandal]

You guys had a TV antenna for a tree?

For anyone who has never seen one, ebay it.
I never knew there was a color wheel, we didn't have one.
As for the antenna, that would have been taller then the tree we had (5 1/2 foot green thing), part of the reason I think I liked the aluminum one better.