Christmas Trees: Real or Fake?

[TimTwoFace]

In regards to Christmas trees, do you prefer to have a real tree in your house or a fake one?

Me, I've never, ever used a real tree before...I'd like to experience that once just for the sake of seeing the difference.

-Tim

[zmanjz]

Gots to be real.

I've never had a fake tree.

But there's nothing cooler than a live christmas tree. (Provided that you keep it well watered.)

[Elven Moon]

Not that I prefer fake trees, but my family hasn't had a real one in several years. So I'm used to it.

[sandwichman]

Real trees. You don't often see a burly man chainsaw your tree out of the ground with a fake tree. That's the Christmas spirit for you.

[Sora Takenouchi]

My family's never had a real one. So it's "fake" for me. Real ones must be a pain to clean up tho'.

[purplehairedwonder]

We've never had a fake one. I love having a real tree. The smell, the feeling, the looking for one. Plus watering it. It's just tradition.

[Mike Spartz]

Real 'cause they smell fresh and their fun to water. ;)

[Parallax]

Fake. I've never actually had a real Christmas tree.

[Speedy Boris]

Our family used a real Christmas tree for years, but we soon tired of cleaning up the needles and the expense of buying a new one each year, so a couple years ago we bought a fake tree. Frankly, I could care less- the real was cool and all (and I loved the pine smell) but the fake is easier to take care of.

[Avery]

I couldn't imagine buying a fake tree. The real one just makes the house smell so good. And it's really hard to find our traditional 8-foot monster in plastic.

As for clean up, we just spread out a christmas-y blanket under the tree and when we take it down, we just shake out the blanket.

[Barb Gordon]

They both work for me, I'm pretty versatile. I had real ones all my life until the last two years when my Dad finally got my Mom to get a fake one. Real ones are great, but most of the fun, at least to me, is really just in getting the tree. Going out with family to the tree lots and picking it out and bringing it home. But lately the prices are so insanely high it lost its joy. Fake ones are fantastic because they don't die or leave needles all over the floor, and they ones nowadays are made great and look pretty real. And heck, if you ever want it to seem real you could just spray pine scented air freshener around it or something, lol. Real or fake, they both work, but after having both, I like fake.

~Barb

[DianaGohan]

I have a little fake tree and a bigger fake tree. I would like a real one, but... I like the fake ones better.

[Rune]

*sits on the fence* I like both, not so keen on the fibre-optic ones though.

We have a big fake one in the lounge and a slightly bigger real one outside the house. I stopped having large real trees indoors 'cos unless you get the hideously overpriced 'doesn't drop its needles' type we used to find that with the cats/kids always swinging on it the poor tree would be semi bald by Boxing Day, also I only have to touch it to come out in an allergic reaction. We get to 'dig our own' round here as there's a Christmas Tree 'plantation' in the village.

I'll only ever buy a real tree if it has the root ball on it too, that way at least it has a chance of surviving if you plant it outside after Christmas, it breaks my heart to see hundreds of trees just chainsawed off above their roots.

We do have a very small real tree (about 2' tall) in a pot in the kids' room, I was coerced into getting it by my daughter who seeing it was by far the smallest tree in the store was convinced it would never be sold and felt very upset by this. Since I'm a soft touch I bought it, she decorated it and I have to say it really brought back that Christmas magic I felt as a kid too :)

[PowerZord]

I prefer the real trees.

[Nick Biped]

At our house, we've had a fake tree for the past several years now. Though when I visit my grandparents during Christmas vacation, they always have a real tree.

I'm okay with it either way. Real trees are a bit of a nuisance with pine needles that fall off and such, but they have a nice scent.

[Ed Liu]

Howdy,

Fake trees due to lower maintenance, lower expense over the long term, and reduced possibility that our big furry dog (http://members.macconnect.com/users/e/edwick/brownie01.jpg) will mark his territory where he REALLY REALLY shouldn't.

If I was ever going to use a real tree, I'd want it to be in the front yard where it would keep growing after we're done with it.

-- Ed/Ace

[RogueMartian]

We've had fake trees for most of my life. We got a real one once, we kept it FULLY intact so we could plant it afterwards. The problem was, it was a pain to carry, cause it was so bulky. Planting it was kind of fun, but it eventually died so we had to cut it down anyway and that was a pain. It had a nice smell, but not nice enough to warrant the monster pain of carryingand cleaning.

So I vote for fake trees.

[Jaguar]

Yeah, I've always had a fake tree...just don't have the time or patience for a real one.

[Eddie G.]

My cat climbs into the real trees... so real trees for the sake of the funny.

[Spidey2099]

*Ahem* I'm going with the fake tree.

What?

There's squirrels in the real ones! (Don't ask.)

[Eddie G.]

Dude Christmas Vacation was just a movie!

Sorry had to.

[Jade_GL]

Real. Though at my house I have a small fake one. Mainly because of space and cleaning issues. I also had a fake tree when I lived overseas, mainly because they didn't have good Christmas trees available. :)

Still, real trees are wonderful, smell good, and always make me feel like it's really Christmas time.

Although, I was kind of shocked when I heard my sister talk about how much trees cost in Florida. She said really good, real trees cost over 50 dollars. I was like *yikes* because when I was a kid, and even today, my parents get fresh cut trees for between 15 and 20 bucks. So I guess money can be a huge factor. Plus, you need a new one every year.

But I think it's worth it. 20 dollars a year isn't too bad for that feeling. :)

[Narfpinky]

(where is the "both" option? ;))...Guess we're the only ones so far that, for as far as I can remember, put up *both* a fake tree and a real one. ;) :narf:

(er, fake one has always gone in the front living room; real one in the family room)

[FavreFactor]

Im with the fake tree because then you can save it and use it for next year!

[Jaguar]

Dude Christmas Vacation was just a movie!

That's what they want you to think.

[Katrover]

Whoa, I'm one of the few who prefer the real thing. :sweat:

Fake trees may be reusable, but they can break down after much use. Fake tree's "pine needles" do fall off too. Plus going out and choosing "the right one" is much more fun and magical than just getting "ol' plasticy" out of the garrage every year.

My family used a fake tree for several years, then switched to noble firs. This years we're using a douglas fir.

[Outlander00]

Despite the mess and fuss, I still prefer a real tree. I like how the room smells when there is a real one up and Im sort of a traditionalist when it comes to these sorts of things :)

[Crimson_lynx]

real trees own fake trees :D
i dont care if they're messy...thats ok with me.


-Crimson

[auto]

Whenever I enter my attic it always feels like christmas time :p

I grew up with fake trees.

[Boy Wonder]

Fake. You can do anything to it, and it won't make anyone have any allergic reactions.

[Nightflower]

I don't have a tree this year. :(

But I've always had a fake one in the past. ^_^

[Bubblegum Girl]

My family used to have real trees until we decided to get a fake tree instead. It's much better than any real tree cause we don't have to water it throw it away, no pine needles, no pine scent(which I hate), and we would be saving money. But my brother really wants to have the real trees cause he likes the smell.

[PaQ]

Never experienced a real tree but I've heard it does take some upkeep. My family has always had a fake tree, infact the same fake tree since I can remember. I'm used to it now so I don't know how I'd react to having a real one, but I'm happy with the fake tree. :p

[WingZombie38]

I have grown up with the tradition of fake trees. We have a 23 year old 6 foot tree, a 3 foot tree, and one 6 inch tree. The last one was bought for the pets we had at the time. I do admit wanting to experience a real tree. But then someone [can't remember who] notified me that it takes over 17 trees to make one piece of paper. I dunno if it's true or not, but it stopped me from pushing for a real tree. On another note I went to see the big Christmas tree at Rockerfellar today. Nice 20 minute walk from my college and 30 minutes of getting my hands numb helping others take pictures. :anime:

[Jade_GL]

Christmas trees, especially in my neck of the woods, are specially grown at tree farms just for the purpose of being sold at Christmas time. So, while I understand the point about killing trees, I would say most of them are grown for the sole purpose of being used for Christmas.

It's not like they're clear-cutting forests to bring people trees for their living rooms. Actually, most tree farms I have seen, or my family has bought trees from, are very responsible and grow more then they cut down.

And, now they have the alternative where you can buy a tree that you can later plant (roots and all of course) which is a bit more expensive and harder to find, but is a great alternative for people who want a real tree, but may feel like it's a waste to just cut down a tree for their decorating fun.

[WingZombie38]

Jade, thanks for the clarification. You just lifted a 12 year weight off my shoulder. I remember that person made it sound as if I was going to be the person to wipe out all Christmas trees/pines of the face of the planet. It takes only one... :shrug: What they are doing there sounds very cool. :)

[Jedigreedo]

Fake trees are better, don't have to deal with the sticky pine needles or anything. Also with fake trees, you can bend the branches to make sure the ornaments stay on.

[DaphFlamm]

Fake. I hate all the needles everywhere.

[Squall]

Real Christmas trees may be more novel, but they are also a very real fire danger. Fake Christmas trees are the way to go. They're much cheaper, and safer, in the long run.

[Son Gokuu]

We've never had real trees, we've been through 3 fake 'uns since I can remember. I remember the first one we had. It was so small we had to stand it on top of a vat just to make it look taller. We got a 5ft one 13 yrs ago which was a lot more realistic in looks, we threw it away early this yeard when it strated to fall to bits. We got a new 5ft one a couple of weeks ago. I think I prefer fake ones because of the above and also it's not much of a hassel unlike real ones, and they last longer.