Re: Real or Fake Christmas trees

Re: Real or Fake Christmas trees

real for us!! I can see why people get the fake bc it can become a pain - but it just feels more like Christmas to me to pick out a tree, cut it down and have a real tree in the living room. Christmas trees is one of my favorite parts of the season!

Re: Real or Fake Christmas trees

I grew up with fake trees (but really nice ones!) because my mom would get headaches from the smell of real trees.

My husband grew up with real trees though, so the first Christmas in our apartment we got a real tree (nowhere to store a fake one anyway).

Last year we were sort of in the process of moving so we didn't put up a tree, but this year we are in our house so we will get a real tree again.

Depending on how it goes with the care - and the dog - I am not opposed to continuing with the real tree - it can't be any harder to clean up after than it was after we dragged it down the narrow carpeted stairway from our 2nd floor apartment!

Re: Real or Fake Christmas trees

fake!!

we always grew up with fake trees.. i just love them.. and like to decorate early.. so that has something to do with it also.

also, the prelit ones.. are beautiful! so easy too!

Re: Real or Fake Christmas trees

real!

Re: Real or Fake Christmas trees

i grew up with real ones, dh with fakes. we'll be getting a real tree this year. i don't mind having to water it, and yes, the needles can be a pain, but there's just something about having that wonderful scent in your home for a few weeks.

Re: Real or Fake Christmas trees

I love real. Sometimes you get one that "sheds" alot, but I don't mind-I love vacuuming the needles and then my vacuum smells like a Christmas tree.

I have had fake in the past and don't mind them, but prefer real for the smell and the uniqueness of every tree (the branches are different so it is not so symmetrical and cookie cutter)

Message edited 11/9/2009 11:42:42 AM.

Re: Real or Fake Christmas trees

We both grew up with fake trees. They make them so real looking now, I don't even mind. I had a real tree once and it is a pain to water and clean up after, but it does smell nice. But for me, there are always Pine scented candles. Our fake tree is the prelite ones and we love it. It is in three sections and it's up. Plug it in, decorate it and we are done.

Re: Real or Fake Christmas trees

Semi-gross story, so if you're squeamish, skip this post.

We always had a real tree growing up but Dad would wait till Christmas Eve to get it. Once year they decided to buy a balled & burlaped tree so we could plant it in the backyard.

Although they put it right underneath power lines, it was a great success so the next year we did it again.

2nd time didn't turn out so well. The tree died and kind of tilted over in place. They were lax about digging it up and getting rid of it.

One day I was playing dodgeball in the backyard with my cousins. The ball went underneath the old dead Christmas tree and because I was a stupid kid, I bent right over the tree to pick it up. And got the end of one of the branches right in my eye.

I was been transported to the hospital by ambulance, had my eye tested, eyelid stitched, and a huge patch taped to my face. My vision in that eye is decreased but it could have been a lot worse! The tree was disposed of the next day.

However!! We continued to buy real trees every year after that. DH is Jewish and had never had a tree so when we moved in together, we got a small one for the first year to see how he liked it. Now he insists on one every year. Every morning, I water the tree before I make my coffee. This year I think we're going to look into having a tree cut for us from a farm.

Message edited 11/9/2009 12:45:24 PM.

Re: Real or Fake Christmas trees

I think you should alternate one year real tree one year fake. Makes everyone happy.

Re: Real or Fake Christmas trees

Fake. I don't want the headache of watering and cleaning up after it.

Re: Real or Fake Christmas trees

Fake trees for us. We put it up the weekend after Thanksgiving so a real one would never last. Plus, I'm allergic to the pine smell, so I could never have a real tree in the house.

Re: Real or Fake Christmas trees

Fake here but I like the scent of a real tree...

Re: Real or Fake Christmas trees

Thanks everyone!!

i really think i'm going to hold my ground & go with the fake. i really am anxious to decorate this year so i want to put it up early. Plus i know i will be the one taking care of it & cleaning up the needles.

hmmm... i can always play the card "gee you didn't know i'm allergic to pine"

Re: Real or Fake Christmas trees

fake. FIL just retired from FDNY and as seen too many fires caused by real trees

Re: Real or Fake Christmas trees

This is our current debate!!!

He grew up w/fake trees and has one. We moved into our house in early Dec last year, so we just used his.

I grew up w/live trees and have always dreamt of having one in my house.

So we agreed to get both this year and make one themed.

But I want mine in the living room, and I know he's gonna want his there. Not looking forward to that debate lol

Re: Real or Fake Christmas trees

Re: Real or Fake Christmas trees

wow i think i won the debate without even trying. DH just asked me when i want to go shopping for a tree

Re: Real or Fake Christmas trees

I think fake trees are better!! Easier to deal with and less mess behind.. Plus you can reuse the tree..

Re: Real or Fake Christmas trees

always a fake tree for us, we use the same one every year.

Re: Real or Fake Christmas trees

For the first 6 years of our marriage, we were real tree people- and really, there is something so wonderful about them- the smell, etc.. the whole "picking them out" is super festive, etc...

Last year we got a fake one 'cause we thought it would be fun with DD, while she's small, to put up the tree right afterThanksgiving and do a Christmas build up.

this year, since DC #2 is due on 12/4 we're totally putting the tree up right after thanksgiving as well- so right now we're a fake family, but one day we'll go back to real.

Re: Real or Fake Christmas trees

Real...we go & cut ours down the weekend after Thanksgiving. It stays fresh through the new year. We water it a few times a week - if that.

Message edited 11/10/2009 9:34:40 AM.

Re: Real or Fake Christmas trees

We have a fake tree. Growing up we both had fake trees. I honestly don't want to deal with the mess of a real tree every year.

Re: Real or Fake Christmas trees

Real!!

My family has made a tradition of going out east and cutting down our own tree since I was little. DH & I continue the tradition with DD.

Re: Real or Fake Christmas trees

We had a real our 1st year in our house. Last year I bought a $200 pre-lit artificial after x-mas on sale for $60!

I wanted an artificial now that we have a cat that likes to climb and a crawling baby